Delhi, March 9, 2026: On the occasion of World Obesity Day, Early.Fit, a doctor-led weight-loss platform, released a podcast in partnership with Novo Nordisk to raise awareness around obesity. India has the third-largest obese population in the world, and the podcast aims to sensitise people around this growing public health crisis. The podcast features two of India’s leading endocrinologists, Dr. Saptarshi Bhattacharya and Dr. Simran Thakkar, in conversation with Saloni Paliwal, Co-Founder, Early.Fit, which is India’s first endocrinologist-led GLP-1 focused weight loss platform.
So, why is obesity a problem? “Obesity is the condition that can cause a host of diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, fatty liver and even certain kinds of cancers. So, it’s high time that we recognise and treat it as a chronic disease,” said Dr Saptarshi Bhattacharya, Chief Medical Officer, Early.Fit.
“Indians and Asians have a unique body structure where they might not look obese, but they have a lot of fat around the belly. Even if they don’t always satisfy the criteria for BMI but have a large waist circumference, they are prone to several risks associated with obesity,” he added.
Approximately 254 million people, accounting for 15-20% of the Indian population, are obese, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research–India Diabetes (ICMR‐INDIAB) study. Contrary to popular perception, obesity is not about how one looks or what one weighs. It is related to Body Mass Index and the amount of body fat.
Stressing the importance of exercise, he said: “It is important to exercise in some form or other. Ideally, cardio exercise combined with muscle-strengthening and stretching works wonders. However, in India, muscle building is often mistaken for a masculine build. But strength training and adequate protein intake are critical to combat insulin resistance,” he said.
Obesity is still treated as an aesthetic issue despite several life-threatening complications stemming from it. A high BMI between 30 and 35 decreases lifespan by almost five years. However, cost often comes in the way of people seeking weight loss treatments even though reactive healthcare treatments of obesity- induced health issues, including life-long BP or diabetes medication, stents, surgeries cost significantly more.
Regarding the recent conversation around GLP-1 medications, Dr. Saparshi said: “These are very effective hormones which can regulate appetite, improve insulin secretion, counteract some of the hormones that are like anti-insulin and slow down gut movement to reduce chances of glucose spikes.” Unfortunately, people see diets and workouts as the only natural ways to lose weight and medical interventions are seen as cosmetic or a last resort.
The need of the hour is to recognize obesity as a chronic disease with multiple long-term complications. If an individual loses weight and reaches a healthy BMI, the complications that arise from it also decrease. Hence, GLP-1 medication, when combined with diet and exercise, can be effective in aiding weight loss. The patent expiry of semaglutide on March 20 will democratise access to these medications, which, if used under medical supervision, can help combat India’s obesity epidemic.Early.Fit, backed by top AIIMS-trained endocrinologists who are India’s leading GLP-1 experts, and have combined their expertise with tech-first programs, including nutrition, fitness, and side-effect management to offer holistic GLP-1 based weight loss programs.
And his advice to someone considering pharmacotherapies for weight loss? “Pharmacotherapies are absolutely safe but must be combined with lifestyle interventions. And if you are actually planning to go on GLP-1 medications, do it under the right guidance, do it safely and effectively,” he signs off.
