The Economic Times (India) cited IFPRI experts in a feature examining India’s rising obesity rates, particularly in rural areas.
Purnima Menon, Director of Strategy & Partnerships at IFPRI, describes the dietary shift as one “affected by commercial determinants that are shaping India’s food environment,” underpinned by policy choices rather than personal ones. Menon also called for policy measures such as subsidies, food labeling, and taxes to help address the challenge.
The article also quotes IFPRI Research Fellow Suman Chakrabarti, who linked rising obesity rates to a combination of declining physical activity and the growing availability of inexpensive ultra-processed foods. He noted that rural markets now have near-ubiquitous access to cheap processed snacks, while healthier foods such as fruits, vegetables, and animal-source foods remain relatively expensive. Chakrabarti described this as a dietary transition similar to what Indian cities experienced earlier and argued that schools should be a priority intervention point for improving nutrition education and food standards.