New Delhi: India is facing a rising burden of obesity, with one in four Indians being overweight, yet the condition is being treated as a lifestyle issue rather than a disease, experts said at a recent panel discussion led by ICMR and AIIMS after World Obesity Day.Experts said that despite growing awareness, most people do not seek treatment, and even those who attempt weight loss struggle to maintain it. “We lack effective long-term interventions, and behavior change remains difficult,” said Dr. Rajeev Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General, ICMR, pointing to broader social and environmental barriers.Unhealthy foods are often cheaper and more accessible, while healthy alternatives remain difficult to access, she said.The panel brought together Dr. Bahl; Dr. Anup Mishra, Director, National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation; Dr. Naval Vikram, Professor, Department of Medicine, AIIMS; and Dr. Vandana Jain, Professor, Pediatric Endocrinology, AIIMS.Dr. Kamini Walia, Scientist and Head, Descriptive Research Division, ICMR, said obesity should be understood as a multifactorial disease driven by genetic, metabolic, environmental and social factors and not limited to individual defects.Doctors said the problem lies in everyday life. Dr Naval Vikram said obesity is a chronic disease that requires long-term management, influenced by diet, physical activity, psychological and environmental factors.The panel underlined that obesity often starts early. Dr. Vandana Jain stressed the need for a healthy home environment and said that childhood habits, family food choices and activity patterns play an important role.Dr. Anup Mishra said that metabolic complications develop at low body weight levels in Indians, making early detection important. He said new anti-obesity drugs are not a population-level solution and should be used selectively along with lifestyle changes.Experts also highlighted shortcomings in policy and implementation and said improving access to healthy food and creating space for physical activity remain key challenges.They also highlighted emerging research areas, including the gut microbiome, early life nutrition and maternal health, that may shape obesity risk from the earliest stages of life.A major concern remains stigma, which discourages people from seeking care. Experts said recognizing obesity as a disease can focus on long-term management and prevention.