State ranks 11th in obesity, second in NE: Report
Source: Chronicle News Service / Keicha Chingthou Mangang

Imphal, April 08 2025: Manipur has emerged as one of the leading states in India grappling with rising obesity among women, according to the 26th edition of "Women and Men in India 2024" released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

Based on data from the report, 34.06 per cent of women aged 15-49 years in the state are classified as overweight or obese, placing the state at the 11th position nationally and second in the Northeast after Sikkim, which tops the region with a rate of 34.7 per cent.

This figure far exceeds the national average of 24.02 per cent, indicating a significant shift in the nutritional profile of Manipur.

The data, sourced from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21), also reveals an urban-rural divide.

In urban areas of the state, the obesity rate among women stands at 38.95 per cent, while in rural regions it is 30.98 per cent.

The trend reflects changing dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles, and reduced physical activity, particularly in urban areas.

Under-nutrition appears to be less of a concern in the state.

Only 7.23 per cent of women in the same age group have a Body Mass Index (BMI) below normal (<18.5 kg/m2), well below the national average of 18.67 per cent.

The state is placed at the 5th lowest position nationally and fourth in northeast.

This duality indicates a nutritional transition underway, where issues of over-nutrition are beginning to overtake under-nutrition as a public health challenge.

Experts suggest that this growing prevalence of obesity may contribute to longterm health risks, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.

The data underscores an urgent need for public health interventions focused on lifestyle modification, awareness campaigns, and community-based nutrition education, especially in urban areas where the problem is most pronounced.

The MoSPI report provides a broader snapshot of the state's health profile based on multiple indicators, including disease incidence, health screenings, HIV awareness, and healthcare workforce.

While the state shows strength in areas such as HIV/AIDS awareness and nursing infrastructure, the surge in obesity highlights a pressing concern that could strain the state's healthcare system in the years ahead.

Acute diarrhoeal diseases remain a major concern, with 4,648 cases reported in 2021 and a slight drop to 3,924 in 2022 (provisional).

Despite the high number of cases, no deaths were recorded, suggesting effective disease management.

Enteric fever maintained a consistent incidence with 1,869 cases reported in both 2021 and 2022, again without fatalities.

Viral Hepatitis cases declined from 55 in 2021 to 38 in 2022, and no deaths occurred.

Malaria, too, remains under control with just seven cases in 2021 and four in 2022, all non-fatal.

Snake bites pose an environmental health risk, with 55 cases and two male deaths reported in 2021 .

In 2022, the number dropped to 38 cases with no fatalities.

Viral Meningitis was recorded in negligible numbers - two cases in 2021 and three in 2022 - with no deaths.

On preventive healthcare, NFHS-5 data show limited uptake of cancer screenings among women aged 30-49 years.

Only 2.1 per cent of women have ever undergone screening for cervical cancer, and 1.6 per cent for breast cancer.

Urban women show slightly higher screening rates than rural counterparts, but overall figures remain low, signalling gaps in awareness and access to preventive services.

In contrast, awareness of HIV/AIDS among women in the state is among the highest in India.

According to NFHS-5 (2019-21), 50.6 per cent of women had comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS, up from 40.7 per cent in NFHS-4 (2015-16) .

This figure significantly exceeds the national average of 21.6 per cent and reflects the success of targeted public health campaigns, especially given the state's historical exposure to drug-related HIV transmission risks.

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