PIPAL: People’s Initiative for Participatory Action for food Labelling

 In recent years, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India has reached alarming levels, posing a severe public health crisis. The rising consumption of junk food and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has become a significant contributor to this epidemic. As awareness spreads among the medical fraternity in Varanasi and Uttar Pradesh, the discussion around junk food and its impact on health is gaining momentum. The Grim Statistics The statistics related to NCDs in India paint a grim picture: NCD Mortality : Nearly 58 lakh people in India die from NCDs each year, out of approximately 90 lakh overall deaths. This indicates that a significant portion of the population is succumbing to diseases that are largely preventable through lifestyle changes. Childhood Nutrition and Obesity : According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5-2021), under-nutrition in children remains stagnant, with one in three children affected. Simultaneously, obesity is on the rise among chi...

The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India has reached alarming levels, posing a severe public health crisis. Recent data and studies highlight the urgent need for effective measures to combat these diseases. The Grim Statistics NCD Mortality : Nearly 58 lakh people in India die from NCDs each year out of nearly 90 lakh overall deaths. Childhood Nutrition and Obesity : According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5-2021), under-nutrition in children remains stagnant, with one in three children affected. Simultaneously, obesity is on the rise among children under five years old. The percentage of obese women increased to 24% from 20.6% in 2015-16, and for men, it rose to 22.9% from 18.4% in the same period. Diabetes and Hypertension : The International Council of Medical Research – India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study reveals that as of June 2023, India had approximately 10.1 crore people with diabetes, 13.6 crore with prediabetes, 31.5 crore with hypertension, a...