UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India ranks second globally in childhood obesity: study

Q1. With reference to the World Obesity Atlas 2026 released on World Obesity Day (March 4, 2026), consider the following statements about the countries with high BMI burden among children aged 5–19 years: 1. China ranked first globally with approximately 62 million children with high BMI. 2. India ranked second globally with approximately 41 million children with high BMI. 3. The United States ranked third globally with approximately 27 million children with high BMI. 4. India had a higher count of children with clinical obesity than the United States. Which of the above statements is/are NOT correct?

1. China ranked first globally with approximately 62 million children with high BMI.
2. India ranked second globally with approximately 41 million children with high BMI.
3. The United States ranked third globally with approximately 27 million children with high BMI.
4. India had a higher count of children with clinical obesity than the United States.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 3 only
• C. 4 only
• D. None of the above — all are correct

Q2. The World Obesity Atlas 2026, which ranked India second globally in number of children (aged 5–19 years) with high BMI, was published by which organisation?

• A. World Health Organization (WHO)
• B. World Obesity Federation
• C. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
• D. International Obesity Task Force (IOTF)

Q3. In the context of WHO's global nutrition targets on childhood obesity, the phrase 'halving the rise in childhood obesity' most precisely means which of the following?

• A. Reducing the absolute number of obese children by 50% from the 2010 baseline
• B. Reducing the rate of increase in childhood obesity prevalence by 50% so that prevalence still rises but more slowly
• C. Achieving zero new cases of childhood obesity in all WHO Member States
• D. Bringing childhood overweight prevalence below 5% in every WHO region

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding WHO's global nutrition targets related to childhood obesity: 1. The original WHO target to halve the rise in childhood obesity was set with a 2025 deadline, which was missed globally. 2. The revised target deadline has been extended to 2030. 3. Under SDG 2.2, the world commits to ending all forms of malnutrition — including overweight and obesity — by 2030. 4. The WHO 78th World Health Assembly resolved to eliminate childhood obesity completely by 2035. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The original WHO target to halve the rise in childhood obesity was set with a 2025 deadline, which was missed globally.
2. The revised target deadline has been extended to 2030.
3. Under SDG 2.2, the world commits to ending all forms of malnutrition — including overweight and obesity — by 2030.
4. The WHO 78th World Health Assembly resolved to eliminate childhood obesity completely by 2035.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q5. The WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (ECHO) was established under the auspices of which organisation, and its final report (2016) recommendations are operationalised at country level primarily through which type of body?

• A. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); through National Environment Agencies
• B. World Health Organization (WHO); through WHO Member State health ministries and national public health agencies
• C. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); through national agriculture and food safety authorities
• D. World Trade Organization (WTO); through national trade policy departments

Q6. Consider the following statements about POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) launched in 2018: 1. Its primary target beneficiary groups include children aged 0–6 years, adolescent girls, and pregnant and lactating mothers. 2. It sets an annual reduction target of 3 percentage points per year for anaemia. 3. Its original primary mandate explicitly covers reduction of overweight and obesity in children. 4. NFHS-5 data showed stunting among under-5 children declined from 38.4% to 35.5% in the period covered. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Its primary target beneficiary groups include children aged 0–6 years, adolescent girls, and pregnant and lactating mothers.
2. It sets an annual reduction target of 3 percentage points per year for anaemia.
3. Its original primary mandate explicitly covers reduction of overweight and obesity in children.
4. NFHS-5 data showed stunting among under-5 children declined from 38.4% to 35.5% in the period covered.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 4 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q7. Consider the following statements about the 'double burden of malnutrition' as observed in India: 1. India simultaneously records high stunting prevalence (35.5% per NFHS-5) alongside a rapidly rising burden of childhood overweight and obesity. 2. Stunting and obesity cannot co-exist within the same national population because they are caused by opposite dietary conditions. 3. Urban children are disproportionately affected by overweight/obesity while rural children predominantly face undernutrition in India. 4. The double burden of malnutrition complicates policy design because interventions targeting food intake for one group may inadvertently worsen outcomes for the other. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. India simultaneously records high stunting prevalence (35.5% per NFHS-5) alongside a rapidly rising burden of childhood overweight and obesity.
2. Stunting and obesity cannot co-exist within the same national population because they are caused by opposite dietary conditions.
3. Urban children are disproportionately affected by overweight/obesity while rural children predominantly face undernutrition in India.
4. The double burden of malnutrition complicates policy design because interventions targeting food intake for one group may inadvertently worsen outcomes for the other.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 1, 3 and 4 only
• D. 2 and 4 only

Q8. The landmark study published in 2017 quantifying the tenfold increase in global childhood and adolescent obesity from 1975 to 2016 was conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration in partnership with which organisation, drawing on data from 128.9 million participants?

• A. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• B. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
• C. World Health Organization (WHO)
• D. World Obesity Federation

Q9. According to the WHO 2007 Growth Reference, how many standard deviations (SD) above the median BMI-for-age must a child aged 5–19 years be classified to meet the threshold for obesity (as distinct from merely overweight)?

• A. More than +1 SD
• B. More than +1.5 SD
• C. More than +2 SD
• D. More than +3 SD

Q10. The 'Eat Right India' movement, which promotes safe, healthy, and sustainable food habits as part of India's NCD prevention strategy including obesity, is operationalised by which regulatory/implementing body?

• A. National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• B. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
• C. National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) under the Indian Council of Medical Research
• D. Ministry of Women and Child Development through POSHAN Abhiyaan