The Nutrition Transformation: From Undernutrition to Obesity

Abstract

As structural transformation changes countries from subsistence agriculture economies to modernized economies, countries undergo a nutrition-related transition 1 (Griffiths & Bentley, 2001). High rates of undernutrition 2 come down and population health improves. However, even as undernutrition decreases, experiences of some countries in the recent past have shown that obesity rates may increase due to overnutrition 3 and this can decrease overall gains made to health during the 1 In the previous chapter, we use the definition of the nutrition transition as described in Popkin (1997), which refers to the dietary transformation that are related to ST. In this chapter the nutrition transformation refers to the changing burden of nutrition-related health problems that constitute the triple burden of malnutrition-we build on the Griffiths and Bentley (2001) conceptualization here. 2 At its broadest level, undernourished individuals are those who do not have access to one or more essential nutrients in their diets. Being undernourished, represented by individuals who are either underweight (too thin for their age), wasted (too thin for their height and age) or stunted (too short for their age) compared to a well-nourished reference population, is one type of undernourishment. Another type of undernourishment is called hidden hunger. This manifests itself as deficiencies of essential micronutrients such as vitamins or minerals in the human body. 3 Over-nourished individuals, on the other hand, are those who consume an excess of a particular macronutrient-calories in particular. This condition is represented by overweight and obesity outcomes which are determined by the age, gender, height and weight of the individual in relation to a similar well-nourished group.

Evolving Food Choices Among the Urban Indian Middle-Class: A Qualitative Study

“…This transition is related to socio-economic position as energy needs change. In India the middle class is probably in the fourth stage of the nutrition transition, evidenced by the rising NCD level ( 48 , 70 ). Among other countries transitioning economically and socially like India, Nepal a neighboring south Asian country also reported being in the fourth stage of the nutrition transition ( 71 ).…”

“…And now with everything being delivered, things are merely a swipe away juxtaposed against earlier times when grocery lists were made, and weekly or monthly shopping trips were planned. Well stocked shops and neighborhood cafes prime people to be engaged with food, cooking, and eating ( 48 ). Research indicates that food imagery has a significant effect as a prime for overeating ( 78 ), in both adults and children ( 79 ).…”

“…The entry of many foreign cuisines is a new phenomenon ( 87 ) and people are enjoying the novelty and variety of dining options now available. Eating out was a rare treat for the middle class but now with the dinning environment changing ( 13 , 48 , 87 ) and increased income, eating out frequently has become popular. Ordering food has also become very frequent and is more popular than eating out ( 88 ).…”

“…Kochi, is an emerging metropolitan city that represents Kerala. The more urbanized states indicated a greater increase in NCDs and obesity over the last decade ( 48 ). Both Maharashtra and Kerala fall in the category of urbanized states and hence, the choice of cities like Mumbai and Kochi was justified in representing urban India with respect to change in food choice.…”

Principles of foodservice ethics: a general review

“…In many other developing countries, obesity is not restricted to the affluent population; overweight and obesity is a common feature among middle and lower-income groups. In these settings, poor health and underlying medical conditions, along with changing lifestyles in adulthood, are factors that contribute to obesity (Pingali et al , 2019). Some of the most significant contributors to the obesity epidemic in India, as in many other developing countries, are the increased consumption of fast food and UPF, food choice resulting from globalization and urbanization, socio-cultural causes such as the urge to mimic affluent trends and peer pressure (d’Amour et al , 2020; Gupta et al , 2012).…”