The Rising Obesity Crisis in India
- Statistics: 1 in 4 Indian adults are obese; 1 in 4 are diabetic or pre-diabetic (NFHS-5).
- Government Response: Government has called for action against obesity; Economic Survey 2025 suggests a ‘health tax’ on ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
Relevance : GS 2(Health)
Failure of Food Regulations
- Weak Labelling Laws:
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not enforced labelling and advertising regulations proposed in 2017.
- No front-of-pack (FoP) warning labels exist on HFSS (high fat, sugar, salt) foods.
- Flawed Indian Nutrition Rating (INR) System (2022):
- Modelled on Australia’s unsuccessful ‘health star’ rating.
- Misleading ratings: UPFs like biscuits, soft drinks, and corn flakes receive 2-3 stars despite being unhealthy.
- FSSAI ignored its own 2021 draft regulation recommending traffic light warning labels and bowed to industry pressure.
Advertising and Regulatory Gaps
- Ineffective Advertisement Restrictions:
- Four existing laws to curb HFSS advertising remain weak and ambiguous.
- Consumer Protection Act (2019): Defines misleading ads but does not mandate disclosure of sugar/salt/fat content.
- HFSS and UPFs lack clear definitions and threshold limits under FSSAI rules.
- Impact of Weak Advertising Laws:
- UPFs are widely marketed, especially targeting children.
- Global evidence: Chile’s black warning labels cut UPF consumption by 24%.
. The Way Forward
- Scrap the INR system and introduce mandatory ‘high in’ warning labels as per WHO/NIN guidelines.
- Define HFSS and UPFs with clear sugar, salt, and fat limits.
- Strengthen advertising laws:
- Amend existing laws or create a unified law banning HFSS/UPF ads.
- Launch a public awareness campaign on UPF risks in multiple languages.
