Excessive sugar consumption is creating health problems
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Arundhati Sathe
India stands at a critical juncture in its public health journey.
Once grappling predominantly with under-nutrition and infectious diseases, we are now seeing a sharp and concerning rise in lifestyle and diet related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, vascular disease and cancers.
Particularly troubling is the speed at which childhood obesity is increasing — a trend that poses long-term risks to the health of our nation.
These NCDs are also a concern for adverse outcomes from infections and will also result in an unhealthy geriatric population as India ages.
Increasing consumption of ultra-processed and packaged foods high in sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, other preservatives and taste enhancers is a major contributor to this crisis.
Before we experience the full impact of this extremely worrying trend, India has an opportunity to adopt a strong and effective front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) system, particularly in the form of warning labels to safeguard health of its citizens.
Children are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of unhealthy diets.
Excessive consumption of sugar containing beverages, processed snacks, fast food and diet supplements are placing children and youth at risk of rising obesity, early onset of diabetes and hypertension.
Studies have shown that 75-80 per cent of severely obese children will remain obese as young adults and will be at an increased risk of various NCDs, including strokes and heart attacks early in life. At least 15 per cent children in India are already obese or overweight and these numbers are likely to increase steadily, if no public health actions are undertaken and sustained.
Better food choice
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent call to address childhood obesity provides a timely impetus to implement bold, preventive measures like front-of-pack warning labels.
While food labels exist, they are often complex, difficult to interpret, failing to provide consumers with immediate, clear guidance on what they are eating. There is enough research conducted by Indian institutes such as the National Institute of Nutrition, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and AIIMS to indicate that ‘a simple warning label’ on front of the pack of processed food, indicating the high levels of sugar, salt and fat, would help parents as well as youth and children take an informed decision for better food choice.
Data from Chile show that such clear warnings reduce intake of sugar sweetened beverages and are likely to have a beneficial impact on obesity and diabetes.
From a nation that was struggling with infant malnutrition till recently, childhood malnutrition (from processed, ultra-processed and fast food) has emerged as a major area of concern.
Changing dietary habits
The steady rise in childhood obesity in India is a result of changing dietary preferences and a shift towards increased consumption of processed food. Prevention of NCDs like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke must begin in childhood — with clear, evidence-based measures such as front-of-pack warning labels to help families take an informed decision and reduce burden of disease before it begins. Remember, early detection and treatment alone is not primary prevention.
We also need to put in place strict regulations about safeguarding children and youth (who are influenced easily) from misleading and surrogate advertisements not only on processed, and fast food, but also on addictions such as tobacco and alcohol (often done by celebrities).
Another thing we need to realise is the importance of food in our life as a building block for life and not something to just fill up the stomach. We need to look at not just timing of food intake but also the time we devote to eating food.
The writer is Director General of Health Services, MOHFW. Views are personal
Published on April 17, 2025
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