Food security, malnutrition, and obesity in India: A correlational study.

The study examined the relationship between food availability, access, utilization, malnutrition, and obesity in India during 1995 2020, as per the data available at five-year time gaps. Taking a graphical analysis approach, the study explored the interlinkage among food security, malnutrition, and obesity. The results showed a steady rise in both food availability and obesity over the years. The study also noted the rising food accessibility and utility, and its concurrence with obesity trends. Despite the improvement in food security, the trend in the prevalence of malnutrition was paradoxical, declining at first but bouncing back by 2020. The study concluded that while food security in terms of availability had increased, it had led to more consumption of calorie dense processed food, which had led to more obesity. It suggested ways to raise awareness of the risks of poor diet, regulate junk food marketing, promote physical activity, improve access to nutritious food, and make food distribution systems more resilient to fight India's double burden of obesity and malnutrition.