India’s Ultra-Processed Food Crisis: Youngsters Face Rising Obesity, Diabetes, and Cholesterol, Says Lancet Study

The sales of ultra-processed foods in India are currently at their highest, with most customers being young adults under 30 years of age, resulting in surging obesity and diabetes, a new study by The Lancet

has revealed. The three-paper series published by the medical journal defines ultra-processed food as that super high in fat, sugar, and salt, loaded with harmful ingredients like additives, stabilizers, emulsifiers, colourants, and flavouring substances. The papers, written and tallied by 43 global authors, showed that retail sales of ultra-processed foods across India surged from $0.9 billion in 2006 to nearly $38 billion in 2019 -- a forty-fold rise. Most retail shops are now dominated by pre-packaged food and beverage products like chops, ready-to-eat noodles, biscuits, sweet beverages, and packaged breakfast cereals – all of which are not just attractively packed to charm children and youngsters but also get them addicted to flavours.

What happens when you frequently eat ultra-processed foods?

According to the research, all of these end up making you obese, have type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular or heart diseases, mental health problems like depression and anxiety, ultimately causing premature death. According to the data revealed in the study, obesity in India has doubled in both men (from 12 per cent to 23 per cent) and women (from nearly 15 per cent to 24 per cent). Being extremely high in calories and refined carbohydrates, ultra-processed foods increase the risk of metabolic syndrome and other deadly conditions like cancer, especially colorectal and breast cancer. Also, since these foods are typically low in fibre and disrupt the gut microbiome, they cause inflammation and potentially "leaky gut" in the long run. Often stripped of essential vitamins and minerals, ultra-processed foods also contribute to overall poor diet quality, causing many mental health issues like increased risks of depression and anxiety. Some studies have also found that a higher consumption of these foods is associated with an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

How to reduce ultra-processed food consumption?

According to researchers, relying on changes in consumer behaviour, there is a need for coordinated policies that can reduce the production of these high-calorie foods, marketing, and consumption, along with improving access to healthy and nutritious food. Time and again, experts have called for the need to adopt strong regulatory measures directed at their production, marketing, and public disclosure of the constituents of ultra-processed foods by market players. Experts say it should be made mandatory by the health regulatory authorities to write on the front of the pack warning labels that must clearly communicate the harmful levels of salt, sugar, and fat to consumers. Since ultra-processed foods have become an addiction, doctors also call for a ban on their advertising and sponsorship.