Obesity Travels From West To East, Becomes A Complex Problem In Impoverished India

According to the World Food Programme, there are nearly 842 million people in the world who go hungry. Majority of these hungry people live in developing countries such as India with Asia topping the list of people who go to bed hungry as against high prevalence in sub-Saharan African countries. While food insecurity continues to be a major cause of worry around the world, obesity – a stark contradiction of this situation – is another prime killer on the prowl.

Growing waistlines don’t only affect the rich countries where access to food is high. Our predecessors may blame the changing food culture across the globe, but the problem of obesity is more complex than just that.

Future Diets (an analysis of public data) studied this issue recently and came up with startling facts. There are about twice as many obese people in poor countries as in developed ones. The report also mentioned that the governments weren’t doing enough to curb the menace.

The problem has reached an alarming level in India with about 20% of the population being obese. So, in a way, the country that’s witnessing vibrant growth in economy is also carrying it on its waistline, hips and tummy. Just about a few decades ago, India was among nations that wouldn’t be too worried about obesity.

The number stood at 14% of the total population in 1980 and the percentage has jumped to 20% by the beginning of this decade. This has a direct correlation with the increasing income levels, urban migration, changing food patterns and less emphasis on healthy eating. Most of the jobs in urban areas today are sedentary and disappearing breathing spaces such as parks and walkways make it difficult for people to keep their weight in check.

What makes the situation ridden with contradictions is this: It’s not only the urban middle class and upper class that is turning fat with time and money. India’s rural are also giving a tough competition to their urban counterparts as far as obesity is concerned. Another major segment that has to hear the alarm going in the background is the large section of middle class in India, which comprises 40% of the obese population.

Cheaper food and increased consumption of animal fats has India competing with the neighbouring China. Though large section of the population remains alienated from the animal meat consumption, among the groups that consume the trend has been on the rise.

Governments in the last few years have looked away from the issue, focusing only on warning the citizens against turning the country into a destination for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Both these conditions are the natural progression of obesity and a country like India, which has had a strong food culture set in its traditions, is departing from the course at its own peril.

Policies to improve diets and popularising of healthy eating by way of triggering discussions on consuming right kind of food has not yet turned into a prime necessity for the government that has trained its gaze on poverty eradication and food security. So, the abnormal growth on the other side of the country’s anatomy has largely remained unattended.

There is also another reason as to why healthy eating won’t be a debate yet in India, except for urban pockets where health is a hot topic. Politicians aren’t too comfortable stirring the hornet’s nest by speaking of vegetarianism to those who have been eating meat as staple. Reason: it may trigger outbursts from communities that are deemed ‘oppressed’ and further complicate the matters.

Soaring obesity rates are bound to have a direct impact on growing India. A vibrant economy without healthy population may well be a wasted effort. India needs to check its waistline before the country lands in the red zone of weight.