Why in News?
- Recent Lancet series (three-paper global study) highlights the sharp rise in ultra-processed food consumption in India and its health consequences.
- Retail sales of ultra-processed foods rose from $0.9B in 2006 → ~$38B in 2019 (≈40-fold increase).
- Obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are surging concurrently.
- Signals urgent need for policy action on diet, marketing, and public health.
Relevance:
- GS 2: Health — obesity, diabetes, NCD burden, dietary transition, public health policy.
- GS 3: Economy — rising healthcare expenditure, productivity loss due to lifestyle diseases.
- GS 3: Science & Tech / Food Systems — food processing industry, aggressive marketing, supply-chain expansion.
Definition
- Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs): Foods industrially formulated from refined ingredients, preservatives, additives; high in calories, low in nutrients; examples: soft drinks, chips, chocolates, instant noodles.
- Characteristics: Convenient, long shelf-life, hyper-palatable, aggressively marketed.
- Health Concern: Associated with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart, kidney, GI disorders, depressive symptoms.
Current Scenario in India
- Obesity: 28.6% adults affected (≈1 in 4).
- Diabetes: 11.4% adults (≈1 in 10).
- Prediabetes: 15.3% adults.
- Abdominal obesity: 39.5% adults.
- Childhood obesity: Increased from 2.1% (2016) → 3.4% (2019–21).
- UPF market growth: $0.9B → $38B between 2006–2019; rapid penetration into Indian diets.
Why UPFs are Harmful ?
- High-calorie, low-nutrient → excess energy intake.
- Frequent consumption adds ≥500 extra calories/day → fat deposition, particularly visceral fat.
- Visceral obesity increases metabolic risks: Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension.
- Aggressive marketing normalizes unhealthy diets, replacing traditional meals.
Policy and Regulatory Gaps
- India lacks precise data on UPF consumption patterns.
- Current regulations insufficient to curb marketing, especially targeting children.
- No uniform policy to manage food environment or labeling standards effectively.
Global & Scientific Context
- Lancet series authored by 43 global experts: warns of worldwide trend of UPF consumption replacing traditional diets.
- Echoes global concerns: NCD burden rising in low- and middle-income countries due to dietary transition.
- Nutrition experts stress urgent intervention to prevent “nutrition transition” from traditional healthy diets to industrialized diets.
Implications for India
- Rising healthcare burden from obesity and NCDs.
- Early onset of metabolic diseases in children.
- Genetic predisposition of Indians to visceral obesity intensifies risk.
- Need for multi-pronged interventions: public awareness, marketing restrictions, fiscal policies (taxation/subsidies), school nutrition programs.
