Question : OBESITY AND CHOLESTEROL LEVELS AMONG WOMEN



(a) whether the Government has received any report about high levels of obesity and cholesterol among women and school-going children;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the action taken by the Government in this regard?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) & (b): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has reported that they have not received any report on obesity and cholesterol among women and school-going children.

However, ICMR has informed that results from surveys carried out at 6 centres in India using the WHO steps approach show that 12.3% and 2.9% urban and rural women respectively are obese in India. The recent NFHS survey (2005-06) has shown that the obesity levels in women aged 15-49 has gone up from 11% in 1998-99 to 15% in 2005-06.

(c): To address the non-communicable diseases, the Government of India has earmarked a sum of Rs.1660.50 crore under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPDCS). Pilot projects have been launched in 10 districts in 10 states to facilitate, among other things, health promotion and early detection of the disease through opportunistic screening.