India faces junk food crisis as study reveals 23% of Indians to be overweight

There was a time when the junk food crisis was primarily a Western thing, especially associated with the US food culture, but unfortunately, this rising global health issue has affected Indians too.

The significant increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods, which are high in fats, sugars, and salt that began with urbanization, and globalization in the 1990s, especially among the youth has been attributed to this health issue.

A recent analysis published in The Lancet found that about 23% of Indians were technically overweight (body mass index over 25).

According to a report by the Nutrition Advocacy for Public Interest (NAPi), if the current trends continue, India may face a health crisis similar to that of developed countries like the US and UK, with rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases.

Most Indian youth and university students have now completely relied on college canteens and fast food joints for their major chunk of food consumption. Carbonated beverages, chips, biscuits, and burgers, are part of their everyday regime.

"Most of the time, when hungry, I opt for foods like chips because they are tasty and easily available," an 18-year-old female student said.

The calorie-dense and nutrient-poor processed foods such as burgers, fries, soda, and shakes are preferred by the younger generation over traditional Indian food.

An average Indian household derives more calories from processed foods than fruits, a 2020 study published in The Lancet suggested. Its consequence is a changing pattern of disease and diet-related illnesses.

According to the recent Lancet report, women over 30, for instance, have alarmingly high rates of abdominal obesity in India, with a prevalence of over 55% for women older than 40.

Additionally, genetics also seem to make Indians particularly vulnerable to such ailments. A scientist at the generic pharma major Lupin Ltd pointed out that Indians are prone to greater insulin resistance and likely to develop Type II diabetes at a younger age than the average.

The Lancet study suggested that over 100 million Indians have diabetes, and 136 million are pre-diabetic. That’s a crisis in the making as it is set to grow worse as India becomes richer and more urban.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized obesity, aka 'globesity' as a significant public health problem worldwide, with the prevalence of obesity having more than tripled since 1975.

As of 2024, over one billion people are living with obesity, indicating a global epidemic that affects both developed and developing countries

The researchers have been pressing the government to establish thresholds for sugars, salt, and fats in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) so that warning labels and advertising bans can be implemented.

Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved the proposal to change the nutritional information labeling on packaged food items.

The objective of this decision was to enable customers to make healthier choices by giving them a greater understanding of the nutritional content of the products they consume.

But a fair share of unhealthy foods for Indians also come from mouth-watering street food. India's increasing reliance on processed foods is contributing to a dual burden of malnutrition in India, where undernutrition and overnutrition coexist within the same population.

Obesity rates are expected to rise significantly in the coming years, with adult obesity projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 5.2% from 2020 to 2035, according to data from the World Obesity Atlas 2023.

Another study published in July 2023 in The Lancet revealed that the proportion of deaths due to obesity rose from 25% in 1990 to 61% in 2016.

The proportion of overweight children under five has also risen, indicating a troubling trend for future generations.

The US has long faced challenges related to junk food consumption, leading to high obesity rates and related health issues.

India, now ranked third in obesity rates globally, is following a similar trajectory, with fast food and processed snacks becoming increasingly popular.