India faces a nutritional paradox that only a handful of countries confront: the coexistence of undernutrition and obesity within the same communities, households, and even individuals. Malnutrition has long been synonymous with stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies among children and women. Yet alongside these persistent challenges, obesity is rising at an alarming pace. Millions of children remain undernourished, while anaemia continues to afflict adolescent girls and women of reproductive age—even as overweight and obesity spread across all age groups, according to UNICEF.
Rising incomes, rapid urbanisation, sedentary work patterns, and aggressive food marketing have fuelled an obesity crisis. Food delivery platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy make calorie-dense meals available at all hours, adding to the risk of poor diets and excess weight. The “double burden of malnutrition” is now a defining feature of India’s public health landscape, where hunger and underweight persist even as obesity accelerates.
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The problem goes beyond personal choices. The design of Indian cities leaves little space for healthier lifestyles. Green areas are shrinking, pedestrian pathways are neglected, and cycling infrastructure is virtually absent. For children, the lack of safe playgrounds curtails active play, while adults spend long hours commuting and working sedentary jobs. This reinforces inactivity, compounding the risks of diets already dominated by unhealthy foods.
Transformation of the Indian diet
India’s traditional diets—based on pulses, coarse grains such as ragi, jowar, and millet, and fresh vegetables—are being displaced by ready-to-eat snacks, fast food, and sugar-laden beverages. Take pizza as an example: in Italy, it is prepared with sourdough, fresh tomato sauce, and vegetables, but in India it has devolved into a combination of refined flour, sugar, processed sauces, and industrial cheese.
These ultra-processed products are cheap, convenient, and marketed aggressively. Among affluent households, they lead to excessive calorie intake and obesity. Among poorer families, they create a paradox of energy sufficiency but nutrient deficiency: children may consume enough calories but lack vital micronutrients, leaving them vulnerable to anaemia, poor immunity, and impaired cognitive development.
Much of the blame lies with fast-moving consumer goods companies. Their advertisements glamorise sugar-sweetened drinks and junk food, targeting children and adolescents through television and digital media. Healthier alternatives receive little promotion. Schools, instead of counteracting this influence, often add to the problem: canteens and nearby vendors sell fried snacks and sugary drinks, while physical education is treated as a token subject and campuses provide little space for play.
Government efforts and gaps
Public intervention has been uneven. The mid-day meal scheme has improved calorie intake for disadvantaged children, but meal quality remains patchy and often nutritionally inadequate. At the same time, affordable access to healthy food remains limited, and most families lack the agency or resources to maintain balanced diets. Good nutrition, in practice, has become a privilege of the few.
Policy must strike a balance between addressing hunger and obesity. Schools are a natural starting point. The nutritional quality of mid-day meals must be enhanced to include adequate protein, fibre, and micronutrients. Junk food should be barred from campuses, and nutrition education should be embedded in curricula to help children evaluate marketing claims and make better choices. Physical activity deserves equal weight, with safe playgrounds, mandatory sports, and active breaks built into the school day.
Malnutrition: Regulation and urban design
Globally, governments have experimented with front-of-pack labelling to alert consumers when products are high in sugar, salt, or fat. India can learn from these experiences. There is already a growing awareness among affluent households about unhealthy ingredients like palm oil, but such awareness must spread across all income groups.
Urban planning has to be part of the solution. Walkable cities with safe sidewalks, cycling lanes, and accessible parks encourage healthier living. Local governments can regulate the density of fast-food outlets near schools and expand access to fresh produce through farmers’ markets and small vendors.
No single measure will suffice. Laws and infrastructure must be backed by awareness campaigns and behavioural change. Citizens need the knowledge and motivation to adopt healthier diets and more active lifestyles. Policymakers must act with urgency to protect India’s children not just from hunger, but also from the growing dangers of obesity.