Global Food Policy Report 2024

Published on 14 Mar 2025

Unhealthy Diets and Nutrition Challenges in India

• Prevalence of unhealthy diets: 38% of the Indian population consumed unhealthy foods, while only 28% ate all five recommended food groups.

• Increasing consumption of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods: The consumption of unhealthy foods was rising, while the consumption of vegetables and micronutrient-rich foods was low.

• Double burden of malnutrition: India faced a double burden of malnutrition, with both undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies coexisting with overweight and obesity.

• Rising malnutrition rates: The proportion of the Indian population suffering from malnutrition increased from 15.4% in 2011 to 16.6% in 2021.

• Increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity: The prevalence of overweight in adults increased from 12.9% in 2006 to 16.4% in 2016.

Emerging Trends in Indian Diets

• Shift towards processed foods: The share of packaged (highly processed and calorie-dense) foods in household food budgets nearly doubled from 6.5% to 12% between 2015 and 2019.

• Increased spending on meals consumed away from home: India's total annual household expenditure on paid meals consumed away from home increased by approximately $3 billion during the same period.

Global Trends in Nutrition

• Global prevalence of malnutrition: More than two billion people, mainly in Africa and South Asia, cannot afford a healthy diet.

• Micronutrient deficiencies: Over half of children under five and two-thirds of adult women were affected by micronutrient deficiencies.

• Rising undernutrition and NCDs: High levels of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies have increased, even as the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and related NCDs has risen in South Asian countries.

South Asia-Specific Findings

• High cost of micronutrient-rich foods: Micronutrient-rich foods were expensive compared to cereals, fats and oils, sugar, and sugary and salty snacks.

• South Asia's high-cost premium: South Asia had the highest cost premium for the least-cost nutrient-adequate diet over the lowest-cost source of calorie adequacy.

• Bias towards starchy staples in agriculture and food policies: Agriculture and food policies in South Asia continue to prioritize the affordability of starchy staples over diverse diets.

Recommendations

• Promote diverse diets: Encourage the consumption of a variety of food groups, including fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, and seeds, to ensure adequate nutrient intake.

• Increase access to healthy foods: Implement policies to make healthy foods more affordable and accessible to all.

• Promote healthy eating habits: Develop and implement public health campaigns and educational programs to promote healthy eating habits.

• Strengthen governance: Improve governance and accountability in the food system to ensure effective and equitable implementation of policies.

• Diversify agricultural production: Promote the cultivation of a wider range of crops, including micronutrient-rich crops, to improve dietary diversity.

• Invest in research and development: Support research and development to develop new food processing technologies and improve the nutritional value of food products.

• Strengthen food safety and quality standards: Ensure that food products are safe and meet quality standards to protect public health.

Tags:
Economy

Keywords:
Food security Global food policy Nutritional security Diet pattern

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Agriculture and Food Security