New Delhi: With increasing awareness about the need to manage obesity—a global epidemic—launch of weight-loss injections in India and public demand for tailored treatment, hospitals in Delhi-NCR are stepping up to provide comprehensive obesity care.
Obesity management includes multidisciplinary treatments involving detailed body evaluation and care for the condition—nutritional counselling, hormonal, metabolic and pulmonary assessment and physical therapy. The aim is to treat obesity not just as excess weight, but as a complex medical disorder that needs coordinated and long-term attention.
The World Health Organization defines obesity as body mass index (BMI, an estimate of body fat) of 30 or higher in a person. It is calculated using height and weight.
Further, as many as 7 crore adults in India were categorised as obese in 2022, according to a study in The Lancet last year that looked at global trends in obesity. Of these, about 4.4 crore were women and 2.6 crore were men. Among children and teenagers, 52 lakh girls and 73 lakh boys were found to be obese.
Amid the surging rates of obesity, private as well as government-run hospitals in Delhi-NCR have either already set up or are in the process of establishing one-stop obesity management clinics.
Most recently, Fortis and Apollo—which till now focused mainly on surgical options such as bariatric procedures for obesity—have targeted multidisciplinary obesity care.
While Apollo Hospitals has submitted a proposal to the authorities regarding establishment of a comprehensive obesity care centre, Fortis Hospital launched a dedicated Obesity Clinic this May.
“Patients benefit when they receive customised, evidence-based care rather than one-size-fits-all advice,” Dr Anoop Misra, Chairman of Fortis Centre for Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol, told ThePrint.
From Apollo, Dr Arun Prasad, Senior Consultant, Gastrointestinal, Bariatric and Robotic Surgery, who spearheaded the obesity centre proposal, said that “a truly effective obesity centre must take a multi-pronged approach”.
“With obesity now not only a global concern but also a growing national crisis, we’re working to formalise and structure our approach within the hospital system,” he said.
Max Super Speciality Hospital in Ghaziabad’s Vaishali is already offering obesity management that begins with a detailed body composition scan of the patient.
A body fat analyser machine, housed in the clinical nutritionist’s room, measures fat percentage, muscle mass, BMI and metabolic age, laying the groundwork for personalised treatment.
A multidisciplinary team of bariatric surgeons, pulmonologists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists and physiotherapists, then works together to formulate an obesity management strategy that begins with diet and advances to surgery only when necessary.
Some government hospitals in Delhi already have dedicated services for obesity management.
At the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), a dedicated obesity and metabolic clinic was started in the medicine department in 2017, while Safdarjung Hospital operates a Bariatric and Metabolic Clinic once a week, catering to patients with weight and metabolic concerns.
Lok Nayak Hospital was among the early movers, starting a dedicated obesity outpatient department in 2010. Focused on serving patients from economically weaker sections, the clinic provides comprehensive weight management services, including surgical interventions.
Dr Naval K. Vikram, professor in the department of medicine at AIIMS, New Delhi, emphasised the urgent need for hospitals to prioritise structured obesity care.
“I think it’s high time and the need of the hour for every hospital to have a dedicated obesity care clinic,” he said, speaking to ThePrint.
He suggested that just as hospitals have departments of medicine and surgery, they should include specialised obesity management services in their outpatient offerings, stressing that early intervention can help prevent a range of health complications associated with obesity.
“As a physician, I cannot manage it (obesity) alone. A nutritionist can’t handle it alone either,” he added, pointing out that the condition requires a team-based, multi-specialty approach that can be effectively delivered only in a hospital setting.
The doctors also noted that greater awareness about obesity has fuelled the demand for treatment but access to it is mostly restricted to urban, high-income populations because of the high cost of obesity care.
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‘It’s not just about cutting calories’
Obesity care clinics at hospitals promise comprehensive programmes and continuity of care, something that regular outpatient visits often lack.
“When done ethically, these programmes offer value by integrating medical, nutritional, exercise and behavioural support,” said Misra.
Patients first undergo a thorough assessment with high-end diagnostic tools and are classified based on severity of obesity and related comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnoea or fatty liver. Depending on the outcome, they receive required interventions, all under one roof.
“When a patient first walks in, there’s much more to assess than just weight,” Dr Mugdha Tapdiya, Director of Internal Medicine at Fortis Hospital, Delhi, told ThePrint.
“We begin with a detailed history, including anthropometric measurements—like height, weight, waist and hip circumference—and then move on to body composition analysis (BCA).”
BCA breaks down the body’s fat and muscle distribution, organ weight, water content, and highlights areas of concern.
“It helps us understand if the person has high visceral fat—stored around internal organs, which is far more harmful than fat under the skin,” she explained. “It also gives us a sense of their muscle mass, which is critical for metabolism.”
This is followed by blood tests and radiological investigations such as ECG, along with hormonal assessment. “We look for underlying issues like insulin resistance, often a precursor to diabetes—or thyroid imbalances, PCOS, or other metabolic conditions that silently contribute to weight gain,” said the doctor.
Patients are also assessed for early indicators of chronic lifestyle diseases, such as waist-hip and waist-height ratios. Their mental well-being, eating behaviours, and past weight loss attempts are also evaluated to identify underlying triggers.
Based on this comprehensive assessment, they are referred to relevant specialists—such as endocrinologists, psychologists or bariatric surgeons—depending on individual needs.
“It’s not just about cutting calories,” said Tapdiya. “We treat obesity as a medical condition—one that involves the whole body and mind.”
‘People are no longer ignoring obesity’
The doctors noted that obesity rates have surged, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas, and the condition is being seen as a key contributor to chronic diseases.
“Patients are more health-conscious and willing to invest in preventive care,” said Dr Misra.
Max Hospital sees 40-50 patients coming in per month for obesity treatment, while Apollo receives over 500 patients each month seeking obesity-related advice and care, the doctors from these institutes said.
“We’re seeing people weighing 100, 150, even 250 kg walk in, knowing it’s a medical issue,” said Dr Vivek Bindal, Director and Head of Max Institute of Minimal Access, Bariatric & Robotic Surgery at Max, Vaishali.
In one case, a 30-yr-old woman struggling with obesity visited the Obesity Clinic at Max Hospital in Vaishali in January, where the doctor, after a thorough examination, suggested bariatric surgery.
Over the years, despite trying different diets and weight loss programmes, she could not see effective results. By 2025, her weight reached 164.6 kgs, affecting her day to day activities and her health severely.
In February, the surgery was finally conducted under expert guidance and support. Five months later, the woman said she has lost 35.8 kgs and has further achieved a 36.4 percent excess body weight loss.
“I have also started regular activity and feel more energetic, positive, and hopeful than I have in years,” she told ThePrint, adding she is still in the process of losing more weight under the guidance of the doctors at the clinic. “This journey has only just begun, but I am fully committed to continuing my progress and reclaiming my health.”
Dr Vikram from AIIMS said the response to its dedicated obesity clinic has been encouraging, with over 4,000 patients under follow-up since its launch in 2017.
He explained that in a busy general medicine OPD, doctors often don’t have the time for detailed counselling. “You’re usually told to eat less, walk more, it’s a two-minute conversation that isn’t effective,” he added.
At AIIMS, patients are also referred from other departments like surgery, gynaecology and orthopaedics to a weekly obesity clinic. “Now that they know there’s a dedicated clinic, patients are even asking to be referred on their own,” he added.
Obesity is widely recognised across age groups, and each demographic comes in with its own concerns.
“We treat patients ranging from 15 to 75 years old. Those over 50 usually have comorbidities like diabetes and high blood pressure. The 35-50 age group often presents early signs of these conditions,” Dr Bindal told ThePrint.
Younger adults between 25 and 35 commonly seek help because they want to look good, while adolescents are brought in by parents worried about the emotional impact of obesity.
“Some kids are going into depression because of their weight,” he said.
According to Dr Bindal, the trend is clear: people are no longer ignoring obesity. “Every age group has its own trigger, but there’s one common factor, they all want help, and they’re coming in earlier than they used to.”
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New medications fuel awareness
India’s obesity drug market is also evolving, with several new medications, originally developed for type 2 diabetes, now being repurposed for weight loss.
According to doctors, the availability of these drugs—and growing awareness about them—is one of the key drivers behind the rising demand for comprehensive obesity care.
This March, US pharm giant Eli Lilly launched its weight-loss injection Mounjaro in India, and in May, it partnered with Apollo Clinic to raise awareness about obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro was initially approved for diabetes, but is now also being used for weight management due to its dual action on GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors. These are naturally occurring gut hormones that help regulate insulin, appetite, and blood sugar.
By activating the receptors, Mounjaro offers greater synergy, improving blood sugar control while also reducing appetite and promoting weight loss.
Another key drug on offer is semaglutide, known globally by the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. The injectable version of Wegovy—seen as more effective for weight loss—was launched in India on 24 June.
Indian pharma companies like Cipla, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s and Biocon are also working on generic versions of these drugs, with some—like Biocon’s liraglutide—already approved.
“These drugs have specific criteria for use, and we carefully assess patients before prescribing them,” said Dr Tapdiya, adding that side effects must also be considered when designing a treatment plan.
According to the doctors, while a range of anti-obesity medications have been available in the past, they often came with limitations, both in effectiveness and safety. Earlier treatments also focused primarily on lifestyle modifications, which often led to weight loss but also significant muscle loss, making the approach unsustainable.
Some older medications aimed to regulate appetite by influencing brain chemicals, but many were withdrawn due to side effects such as increased cardiovascular risk.
The newer generation of drugs, the doctors said, also works by significantly reducing appetite, helping patients better adhere to dietary changes without constantly feeling hungry.
These medications also improve blood sugar, blood pressure, and cardiovascular health and results are often visible within weeks—both medically and physically—which makes them very appealing to patients.
Dr Sudhir Kumar Kalhan, Chairman of Institute of Minimal Access, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told ThePrint that while pharmaceutical companies bringing new weight loss medications are helping to raise awareness about obesity, there is also a strong commercial angle attached.
“Now that big multinational companies have introduced expensive weight loss injections, they’re actively creating awareness about obesity as a multifactorial disease—because it also brings them significant profits,” he said.
Comprehensive but expensive
From medications to full-scale treatment plans, obesity care doesn’t come cheap.
Dr Misra noted that when obesity clinics focus on preventive health, they can play a meaningful role in tackling India’s growing burden of lifestyle diseases and also serve as hubs for community awareness, clinical research, and health data collection.
However, their reach remains limited (restricted to urban, high-income populations) because of high treatment cost. “For these clinics to make a real public health impact, they must be accessible across all socioeconomic groups—and that’s not the case yet,” he said.
Fortis’ newly launched obesity clinic offers tiered packages—for single-visit, three months, and six months, that include physician, dietitian and psychologist consultations, along with blood tests, radiological and cardiac assessments, and advanced body composition analysis.
A one-time visit starts at Rs 10,000. Extended plans include follow-ups and discounted consultations. Taken individually, these tests and services can cost up to Rs 25,000 as a package.
Bariatric surgery, often considered for severe obesity, starts around Rs 2 lakh and can exceed Rs 4 lakh.
The new weight-loss medications, particularly injectables originally developed for diabetes like semaglutide, have added to the cost. An injectable—administered once a week—costs around Rs 30,000 monthly.
“For effective results, patients may need the drug for at least 88 weeks,” said one of the senior doctors. “If higher doses are required, the cost can double to Rs 60,000 a month.” These injectables are not covered by insurance.
Oral alternatives, such as semaglutide tablets, also range between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 per month and must be taken daily.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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