Economic Survey reveals disturbing reality: Are ultra-processed foods and obesity, screen time destroying India’s future?

The survey said: "Obesity is rising at an alarming rate and is today a major public health challenge in India. Driven by unhealthy diets, lifestyle changes, including sedentary lifestyles, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), it is affecting people across all age groups and increasing the risk of NCDs such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension."

The 2019-21 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reports that 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of Indian men are overweight or obese, the survey said.

More troubling still, the prevalence of excess weight among children under five has risen from 2.1 per cent in 2015-16 to 3.4 per cent in 2019-21.

The survey said ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are displacing long-established dietary patterns, worsening diet quality, and are associated with increased risk of multiple chronic diseases.

The survey highlights how dietary reforms should be treated as a public health priority. India is one of the fastest-growing markets for UPF sales.

"It grew by more than 150 per cent from 2009 to 2023. This indicates the need to popularise locally grown food, traditional foods and use traditional practices like AYUSH (such as, the promotion of Yoga) for effective management," the survery said.

The Survey sheds light on the growing problem of digital addiction among children. Digital addiction negatively affects academic performance and workplace productivity due to distractions, ‘sleep debt’, and reduced focus. It also erodes social capital.  The survey notes the measures taken by the government to address this problem. The CBSE has issued guidelines on safe internet use in schools and school buses.  The Ministry of Education’s Pragyatah framework guides digital education planning with attention to screen time. At the same time, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has issued guidelines on screen time limits and online safety.

Mental Health crisis

The survey found that closely linked with digital addiction is the degrading mental health of the youth.

There is a high prevalence of social media addiction among those aged 15-24 with multiple Indian and global studies confirming it.  

"Social media addiction is strongly associated with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and cyberbullying stress," the survey said.

"Other issues plaguing Indian youth include compulsive scrolling, social comparison and gaming disorders. These lead to sleep disruption, aggression, social withdrawal, and depression, with adolescent populations especially vulnerable," the survey said.