Firstpost brings expert insights on how ultra-processed foods are contributing to rising cases of obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases in India.
The findings have reignited debate over misleading “healthy” branding, poor label literacy among consumers and the growing dependence on packaged foods in urban households.
While genetics, inactivity, stress, and sleep patterns also contribute, dietary habits, particularly heavy intake of ultra-processed foods — play a central role.
Regular intake of ultra-processed foods can lead to earlier onset obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, gut microbiome disturbances, and future cardiovascular risks.
Children are in a critical developmental phase where nutritional quality directly affects physical growth, cognitive development, and long-term metabolic health.
Artificial additives, excess sugar and preservatives in everyday packaged foods are raising fresh concerns over long-term metabolic health, especially among children and young adults. Firstpost brings expert insights on how ultra-processed foods are contributing to rising cases of obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases in India.
India’s rapidly expanding packaged food market is coming under fresh scrutiny after a recent NatFirst report analysing more than 23,000 food products found widespread use of excess sugar, artificial additives, flavour enhancers and preservatives in items consumed daily by millions.
Public health experts globally have increasingly linked ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to rising cases of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, hypertension and chronic inflammation, especially among younger populations.
The findings have reignited debate over misleading “healthy” branding, poor label literacy among consumers and the growing dependence on packaged foods in urban households.
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Firstpost talked to Dr. G. Nasiruddin, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital (Bengaluru), to understand the long-term health implications of ultra-processed foods, their impact on children and young adults and the lifestyle changes families can adopt to reduce dependence on packaged products.
How concerning are the findings around widespread artificial additives and excess sugar in everyday foods?
Dr Nasiruddin: The findings are certainly concerning from a public health perspective because they highlight how widely ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have penetrated the daily Indian diet. When a large share of regularly bought items contain extra sugars, artificial flavours, colours, and preservatives, the whole dietary rhythm shifts toward excess calorie intake yet with low nutritional value.
The bigger problem is not just one additive alone, but the total cumulative exposure that builds up across several packaged foods that we consume on a daily basis. Over time, this contributes to rising metabolic disease risk at a population level, especially in urban settings.
Are consumers unknowingly consuming more ultra-processed foods than they realise?
Dr Nasiruddin: Yes, there is a significant and growing gap between perceived healthiness and actual nutritional quality. Many products positioned as “healthy,” “natural,” “high-fibre,” “diet,” or “family-friendly” can still be packed with added sugars, refined carbohydrates, artificial flavouring agents, emulsifiers, and stabilisers.
This creates a strong “health halo effect,” where people assume the product must be good for them simply because of branding or selective claims printed on the packaging. In reality, the processing level and ingredient composition often place these products firmly within the ultra-processed category.
A major issue is low label literacy. Many consumers are not trained to read ingredient lists or identify hidden sugars and additives. As a result, marketing narratives often override nutritional reality.
Are lifestyle-related diseases rising due to ultra-processed food consumption?
Dr Nasiruddin: In clinical settings, there is a clear and consistent rise in non-communicable lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia.
What is especially notable is that these conditions are now increasingly appearing among people in their 20s and 30s, which was far less common a decade ago. While genetics, inactivity, stress, and sleep patterns also contribute, dietary habits, particularly heavy intake of ultra-processed foods — play a central role.
What are the long-term health risks for children and young adults?
Dr Nasiruddin: The long-term implications are particularly concerning because food habits formed during childhood often continue into adulthood. Regular intake of ultra-processed foods can lead to earlier onset obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, gut microbiome disturbances, and future cardiovascular risks.
Repeated exposure also alters taste preferences, making children more inclined toward high-sugar and high-salt foods later in life.
How do excess sugar and additives affect metabolic health?
Dr Nasiruddin: The biggest metabolic concern is the high load of added sugars, refined starches, and unhealthy fats rather than individual additives alone. Excess sugar contributes to insulin spikes, liver fat accumulation, and elevated triglyceride levels, increasing the risk of fatty liver disease, diabetes and cardiovascular complications.
Food additives may also enhance palatability and disrupt satiety signalling, which often leads to passive overeating over time.
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Can ultra-processed foods contribute to chronic inflammation?
Dr Nasiruddin: Yes, increasing evidence links long-term ultra-processed food consumption to low-grade chronic inflammation. This happens through disruption of gut microbiota balance, oxidative stress, impaired intestinal barrier function, and metabolic overload.
Chronic inflammation is now recognised as a key driver behind cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and even some neurodegenerative conditions.
How worried should parents be about children consuming packaged foods regularly?
Dr Nasiruddin: Parents should certainly be cautious. Children are in a critical developmental phase where nutritional quality directly affects physical growth, cognitive development, and long-term metabolic health.
Frequent intake of sugary and processed foods increases the risk of childhood obesity, insulin resistance, dental problems, and unhealthy lifelong eating patterns.
What simple dietary shifts can families make to reduce dependence on ultra-processed foods?
Dr Nasiruddin: The solution does not require extreme restrictions. Small, sustainable behavioural changes can make a major difference over time. Replacing packaged snacks with fruits, nuts, sprouts, and home-cooked foods can significantly lower ultra-processed food exposure.
Increasing fibre intake through whole grains, vegetables, and pulses also improves satiety and supports metabolic health. Even replacing one packaged snack a day with a natural alternative can meaningfully reduce long-term metabolic risk.
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