Digital Inequalities, Education and Obesity Among Women in India: A District-Level Analysis Using NFHS-5

Abstract

This study explores the multifaceted relationship between women’s educational attainment, literacy, anemia, and obesity across Indian districts, drawing on the rich dataset provided by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). With significant strides in female education and increasing levels of economic participation, India is undergoing a socio-nutritional transition. However, the health implications of this shift, particularly for women, remain insufficiently examined in the literature. Utilizing district-level data from NFHS-5, this paper employs both correlation matrices and linear regression analysis to examine how variables such as years of schooling, literacy rates, and anemia prevalence relate to underweight and overweight outcomes in women. The analysis uncovers a concerning trend: while education is often associated with better health outcomes, higher levels of education among women are positively correlated with rising obesity rates in many districts, suggesting a shift towards sedentary, urbanized lifestyles and altered dietary patterns. Simultaneously, the persistence of anemia and underweight conditions among women highlights the coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition—a phenomenon widely referred to as the “dual burden of malnutrition.” This duality is especially pronounced in districts where high obesity coexists with high anemia, posing a complex challenge for public health policy and implementation. These findings carry significant implications for national health programs such as POSHAN Abhiyaan and Fit India Movement, which must now expand their focus beyond undernutrition to address the growing burden of lifestyle diseases. The paper underscores the urgent need for integrated interventions that address both ends of the nutritional spectrum through education, awareness, digital health strategies, and behavioral change. By bridging gaps between education, empowerment, and nutritional outcomes, this study provides a critical foundation for future district-specific health planning and gender-sensitive policy design.