NEW DELHI: A significant public health concern arises as over a third of India’s children aged 5-9 years are found to have high triglycerides, a risk factor for heart disease. Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, and several northeastern states report the highest prevalence of this condition, according to a new government report released on September 25.
Research indicates that approximately 67 percent of children in West Bengal, 64 percent in Sikkim, 55 percent in Nagaland, and 50 percent in Jammu and Kashmir exhibit elevated triglyceride levels. The alarming figures suggest a growing trend of poor metabolic health among young children in these regions.
In contrast, states such as Kerala and Maharashtra present significantly lower rates of high triglycerides, with estimates at 16.6 percent and 19.1 percent respectively. This disparity illustrates a regional divide in children’s health metrics across India.
The report titled ‘Children in India 2025’ marks the fourth edition since its inception in 2008, and it was unveiled during the 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organisations (CoCSSO) in Chandigarh. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation described the report as providing a comprehensive analysis of children’s well-being in the country.
The insights are drawn from extensive data compiled from various governmental bodies, including the National Family Health Survey 2019-21 and the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey 2016-18. This evidence-based approach aims to highlight critical aspects of children’s health, education, and safety.
The report also reveals that prematurity and low birth weight account for 48 percent of neonatal deaths within the first 29 days of life. Birth asphyxia and trauma during birth, along with pneumonia, follow as the second and third leading causes of early infant mortality, occurring at rates of 16 percent and 9 percent, respectively.
Furthermore, the report identifies that about 5 percent of teenagers in India are classified as hypertensive, with the highest prevalence appearing in Delhi (10 percent), followed by Uttar Pradesh (8.6 percent), Manipur (8.3 percent), and Chhattisgarh (7 percent). Alongside these findings, over 16 percent of adolescents are estimated to also have high triglycerides.
Apart from health indicators, the report assesses educational outcomes. It finds that 63.1 percent of children and adolescents in India are literate, with 73.1 percent of those aged seven and above demonstrating literacy. Impressively, over 80 percent of boys aged 7-9 years and 92 percent of those aged 10-14 years are literate, while the statistics for girls show that 81.2 percent of those aged 7-9 years and 90 percent of those aged 10-14 years are literate.
This report brings to the forefront the pressing issue of child health, especially concerning rising triglyceride levels and its implications for future cardiovascular health. As India’s population continues to grow, understanding and addressing these health metrics will be crucial for long-term public health outcomes.
