Defusing the ticking time bomb called diabetes

Source: The post is based on the article “Defusing the ticking time bomb called diabetes” published in “The Hindu” on 6th October 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Governance- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,

News: The article discusses the rising issue of diabetes and obesity in India, linked to the high consumption of unhealthy ultra-processed foods. It highlights the food industry’s aggressive marketing in India and suggests that strict government regulations and policies are needed to control and reduce the public health crisis.

What is the current situation of diabetes and obesity in India?

As of June 2023, a notable study points out a health concern in India related to diabetes and obesity.

The study reveals that 11.4% of the population, which is 10.13 crore people, are living with diabetes.

Additionally, 15.3% of Indians, or 13.6 crore people, are pre-diabetic, showing a potential risk of developing diabetes.

The obesity issue is also notable with 28.6% of the population being classified as obese according to Body Mass Index (BMI) measures.

What are the reasons for high diabetes rates in India?

Ultra-Processed Food Consumption: Many Indians are consuming unhealthy ultra-processed foods, such as chips, instant noodles, and carbonated drinks. These foods often replace traditional diets.

Dietary Impact: A daily increase of 10% in ultra-processed food consumption is linked to a 15% higher risk of type-2 diabetes among adults.

Food Industry’s Role: The food industry in India heavily promotes unhealthy foods. They spend billions on marketing, targeting especially the young and middle class.

Influential Marketing: Tactics include using cartoon characters, celebrity endorsements, and incentives to attract consumers, especially children.

Lack of Effective Regulations: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India hasn’t effectively addressed the crisis. There’s an absence of strong front-of-package labelling to warn consumers about unhealthy products.

Industry Resistance: The food industry opposes restrictions on marketing and often engages in partnerships that might not prioritize public health.

What should be done?

Implementing Regulatory Policies: Government should create legal frameworks or ordinances to reduce ultra-processed food consumption, similar to actions taken by South Africa, Norway, and Mexico.

Defining Healthy Food: Laws or guidelines should clearly define ‘healthy food’ to inform consumer choices.

Warning Labels: Implementing warning labels on unhealthy food and beverages can inform people about the risks of consuming such items.

Restricting Marketing: Placing restrictions on how unhealthy foods and beverages are marketed, especially to vulnerable populations like children, can control consumption.

Avoiding Industry Influence: Government policies and actions should be devoid of food industry influence to avoid conflict of interest and ensure public health is prioritized.

Promoting Public Awareness: There must be campaigns to inform people about the dangers of consuming ultra-processed foods, leveraging data such as the 15% higher risk of diabetes associated with a 10% daily increase in their consumption.

Following Proven Examples: Adapting measures from other countries, like the Infant Milk Substitutes Act which successfully regulated commercial baby food, can offer a guideline for regulating unhealthy foods and beverages.