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Health Star Rating is the right step for the time being and the Govt has taken the initiative to do some beginning in controlling the quality of food. This gets corrected over time. Also the health industry will also find loop holes in this and make profits. Profit making and growth are the words of the capitalistic industry and they continue to follow the core principles!
Obesity epidemic, a disease of the present era, is difficult to curb. As the earning capacity goes up in large Indian families, the affordability hence the buying capacity of the family also increases. The second generation is a pampered lot and the parents encourage the same (since they did not enjoy the same). As long there is no awareness of the right kind of food to be consumed - though it is in the school curriculum, the emphasis is not there - this can never be tackled. Probably the Govt and teachers should start the move to educate and spread the right information to schoolchildren. I feel this will have a huge impact. As GPs we all need to educate parents and children on eating the right food by spending extra minutes with the children.
Another reason is the consumption of carbohydrate, which is the prime source of diet, is adding to the obesity burden. Protein is becoming unaffordable and prices are just going up. And the same with the cooking oil. Public distribution just gives more rice to families and hardly any protein.
I hope the health star rating will also apply to road side eateries, bakeries, etc.
Only concern is that this should not lead to more regulations and hence corruption!
Regards
Mohan
Competing interests:
No competing interests
21 June 2022
Mohan Devegowda
GP
none
Mohans Clinic 613 2nd main First stage Indiranagara Bengaluru 560038
Re: Health experts cry foul as food industry targets India’s ripe market
Dear Editor,
Health Star Rating is the right step for the time being and the Govt has taken the initiative to do some beginning in controlling the quality of food. This gets corrected over time. Also the health industry will also find loop holes in this and make profits. Profit making and growth are the words of the capitalistic industry and they continue to follow the core principles!
Obesity epidemic, a disease of the present era, is difficult to curb. As the earning capacity goes up in large Indian families, the affordability hence the buying capacity of the family also increases. The second generation is a pampered lot and the parents encourage the same (since they did not enjoy the same). As long there is no awareness of the right kind of food to be consumed - though it is in the school curriculum, the emphasis is not there - this can never be tackled. Probably the Govt and teachers should start the move to educate and spread the right information to schoolchildren. I feel this will have a huge impact. As GPs we all need to educate parents and children on eating the right food by spending extra minutes with the children.
Another reason is the consumption of carbohydrate, which is the prime source of diet, is adding to the obesity burden. Protein is becoming unaffordable and prices are just going up. And the same with the cooking oil. Public distribution just gives more rice to families and hardly any protein.
I hope the health star rating will also apply to road side eateries, bakeries, etc.
Only concern is that this should not lead to more regulations and hence corruption!
Regards
Mohan
Competing interests: No competing interests