National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) 2026

National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) 2026 

obesity and diabetes across India

The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) has highlighted the rapid rise in obesity and diabetes across India. 

Obesity in women - (15-49 years) has gone up from 24% in the NFHS-5 to 30.7% in the latest NFHS-6,

obesity in men -  of the same age group from 22.9% to 27.3%.

Diabetes 

among persons taking medicines to control insulin resistance has risen from 

• 13.5% to 17.8% in women, 
• 15.6% to 20.9% in men.

Obesity prevalence

The survey has indicated that obesity/overweight prevalence has 

• increased by about 6.7% among women 
•  4.4% among men in just five years.

This is particularly so in the southern States of 

• Andhra Pradesh, 
• Kerala, and 
• Tamil Nadu, which have emerged as a hotspot for overweight and obese adults, alongside rising diabetes prevalence.

Caesarean (C)-section births

The survey also records an exceptionally high rate of Caesarean (C)-section births, with 

• Telangana at 62.2%, 
• 
  
• Andhra Pradesh at 52.2%, 
• 
  
• and Tamil Nadu at 46.9%.

National Family Health Survey Historical Background

Launch in 1992-93: NFHS began as India’s first DHS linked survey to generate nationally comparable data on fertility, mortality and family planning.

Early Expansion (1998-99): NFHS-2 broadened focus to reproductive health quality, women’s autonomy and domestic violence, reflecting social dimensions of health.

Gender Inclusion (2005-06): NFHS-3 introduced men’s questionnaires, recognizing male roles in contraception, maternal care and reproductive decision making.

District Level Shift (2015-16): NFHS-4 expanded sample size six-fold, enabling district estimates and transforming NFHS into a planning tool for local governance.

Digital Transformation: Tablet based CAPI data collection replaced paper forms, improving speed, accuracy and real time quality checks nationwide.

New Health Domains (2019-21): NFHS-5 added disability and death registration indicators, aligning survey outputs with SDGs and MPI requirements.... 

The national share of births by C-section stood at 27.2%, up from 21.5% recorded in the previous survey. Private hospitals registered 54.1% Caesarean births whereas public hospitals registered 16.9%.

Urban areas reported particularly high rates of C-section deliveries, with around 40.5% of births by C-section when compared with the 22.8% births by C-section in rural areas.

C-sections, obesity, and diabetes are a two-way street, experts say.

Maternal obesity and diabetes increase risk during pregnancy, resulting in a C-section, and being born via C-section increases a child’s long-term risk of developing these metabolic conditions.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the NFHS-6 earlier this week. It was conducted in 2023-24 by the Ministry along with the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai as the nodal agency.

6.79 lakh households

Covering nearly 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts, the survey provides vital evidence on population, health, nutrition, and family welfare indicators, and supports evidence-based planning and programme implementation up to the district-level.

Obesity and diabetes are among the most important global public health challenges because they substantially increase the risk of illness, disability, and premature death, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The global health body defines overweight and obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.

Implementation: 

NFHS-6 is conducted 

entirely under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, funded solely by the Government of India.

Nodal Agency: 

For the first time, the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, independently coordinated all survey activities.

Coverage: Like previous rounds, NFHS-6 provides national and district level estimates on fertility, mortality and family welfare indicators....  

The WHO emphasises that excess body weight is one of the strongest risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes.

“When people accumulate excess body fat — especially around the abdomen — the body’s cells can become resistant to insulin. This condition, called insulin resistance, makes it harder to regulate blood sugar and can eventually lead to Type 2 diabetes,’’ the WHO has said.

The condition results in reduced life expectancy, more years lived with disability, higher risk of multiple chronic diseases, and increased healthcare costs.

National Family Health Survey Criticism

Despite its scale and importance, NFHS data has faced methodological and interpretation related criticisms from experts.

Sample Size Issues: Expansion in NFHS-4 raised concerns about comparability with earlier rounds and potential non sampling errors.

Sex Ratio Findings: NFHS-5 reported 1,020 females per 1,000 males, conflicting with census projections and NSS estimates.

Immunization Fluctuations: Unexplained variations in vaccination coverage and zero-dose children suggest possible data quality issues.

Anaemia Measurement: Use of capillary blood samples may overestimate anaemia prevalence compared to venous sampling methods.

Interview Duration: Faster interviews by private agencies have raised concerns, though digital tools and skip patterns may explain reduced time...