Excessive sugar consumption is creating health problems | Photo credit: Arundhati Sathe
India is at a critical situation on his public health trip.
Once they fight predominantly with infectious and infectious diseases, we are now seeing an acute and relevant increase in lifestyle and non -communicable diseases related to diet (ENT), such as obesity, hypertension, vascular displeasure.
Particularly worrying is the speed at which childhood obesity is increasing, a trend that raises long -term risks for the health of our nation.
These are also a group for the results of the infections advertiser and will also result in a unhealthy geriatric population as India ages.
The increase in the consumption of ultra -prosecuted and packaged foods with a high level of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, other preservatives and taste enhancers is an important taxpayer to this crisis.
Before experiencing the total impact of this extremely worrying trend, India has the opportunity to adopt a strong and effective front and effective front system, particularly in the form of warning labels to safeguard the health of its citizens.
Children are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of unhealthy diets.
The excessive consumption of sugar that contains cases, processed snacks, fast food and diet supplements is placing children and young people at risk of growing obesity, early weet of diabetes and hypertension.
Studies have shown that 75-80 percent of severely obese children will continue to be obese as young adults and will have a higher risk of several NCDs, including strokes and heart attacks at the beginning of life. At least 15 percent of children in India are already obese or overweight and are likely to constantly increase, if public health actions are not carried out.
Best food choice
The recent call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address childhood obesity provides timely impetus to implement bold and preventive measures such as front warning labels of the package.
While there are food labels, they are often complex, difficult to interpret, they do not provide consumers an immediate and clear guide about what they are eating. There is sufficient research carried out by Indian institutes such as the National Institute of Nutrition, the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIP) and Aiims to indicate that “a simple warning label” in the front of the pack of processed foods, which indicate the high levels of sugar, salt and fat, would help parents, as well as young people and children, make an informed decision for a better choice of food.
Chile’s data show that such clear warnings reduce the intake of sweet sugar drinks and they are likely to have a beneficial impact on obesity and diabetes.
From a nation that struggled with child malnutrition to recent child malnutrition (processed, ultra -processed food) has become an important area or group.
Change dietary habits
The constant increase in childhood obesity in India is the result of the change in dietary preferences and a change towards greater consumption of processed foods. The prevention of ENT such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke should begin in childhood, with clear evidence -based measures, such as the warning labels of the stop front to help families make an informed decision and reduce the load of the disease before it begins. Remember, early detection and treatment by themselves is not primary prevention.
We must also establish strict regulations on the protection of children and young people (which are influenced) of the deceptive and substitutes not only in processed and fast food, but also in addictions to celebrities).
Another thing that we must realize is the importance of food in our life as a component of life and not something to fill the stomach. We need to observe not only the moment of food intake, but also the time we dedicate to eating food.
The writer is General Director of Health Services, MOHFW. The views are personal
Posted on April 17, 2025