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.

New Delhi: India may be making progress against tuberculosis, but the scale of the challenge remains grave – it accounts for almost a quarter of the world’s TB cases, while millions of infections go undetected.According to the Tuberculosis Fact Sheet 2026 released by the Centre, tuberculosis remains India’s biggest infectious disease challenge. India contributes about 25% of the global TB burden, with five countries accounting for more than half of the total cases worldwide.At the national launch event of World TB Day 2026 in Greater Noida, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said India is on the path to eliminate TB ahead of the global targets, driven by the “Jan Bhagidari” approach under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. They cited a 21% decline in TB incidence and 25% reduction in deaths between 2015 and 2024, with treatment coverage now at 92%.Recent data supports this trend. Treatment success rates have improved to nearly 90%, while more than 26 lakh cases were notified in 2024, the highest ever, reflecting strong detection efforts.A major boost has come from the TB Free India campaign, which has focused on identifying hidden and high-risk cases. More than 20 crore people have been tested, resulting in detection of more than 32 lakh TB patients, including a large number of asymptomatic cases. Nadda said that due to intensive case finding, the unknown cases have reduced from 10 lakh to less than one lakh.He also announced the launch of an AI-enabled TB Mukt Bharat app to improve access to care and treatment tracking, as well as a 100-day intensive campaign covering 1.58 lakh villages and urban wards.The factsheet highlights that TB is closely linked to poverty, malnutrition and living conditions, with economically vulnerable populations at greater risk. People with diabetes, HIV, smokers, alcohol abusers and those who live in crowded areas are particularly susceptible. At the same time, drug-resistant TB remains a concern, with more than 55,000 cases expected in 2024, requiring longer and more complex treatments.Despite progress, shortcomings remain. About 64% of people with TB symptoms do not seek care due to stigma, lack of awareness or affordability issues, leading to delayed diagnosis and continued transmission.

To address this, the government has combined community outreach with technology. Initiatives like the Ni-Kshaya Mitra program have mobilized volunteers to provide nutrition and social support, while digital tools like the TB Free India app are helping streamline care.Emphasizing on increased funding and indigenous innovations like TrueNet, Nadda said TB is both preventable and curable, stressing the need to reduce stigma and ensure early diagnosis and treatment.Health officials underline that symptoms of TB go beyond a persistent cough and can include fever, weight loss, fatigue, chest pain and night sweats, making prompt testing important.