One Man’s Stand Against Junk Food as Diabetes Climbs Across India
Since 1990, the percent of India’s adult population with diabetes has surged to 7.7 percent — some 63 million people — from 5.5 percent.”
Although obesity and overweight are far less prevalent in India (24 percent last year) than in Canada (about 60 percent), for example,
adults there are just as likely to develop diabetes as in Canada, a New York Times analysis of data from the institute found.
20 adults with diabetes for every
100 who were overweight or obese
20 adults with diabetes for
every 100 who were overweight
In the years since Mr. Verma filed his suit, consumption of junk food has risen sharply across India.
In the years since the court ordered the government to develop guidelines to regulate junk food, the case has encountered ferocious opposition from the All India Food Processors Association, which counts Coca-Cola India, PepsiCo India
and Nestlé India as members, as well as hundreds of other companies.
“On one side you have children like my son, who are born with problems,” said Mr. Verma, “and on the other side you have children who are healthy
and everything is fine and you are damaging them giving them unhealthy food.”
Mr. Verma, who had no legal training, sat late into the nights with his wife, Tullika, drafting a petition in their tiny apartment, which was bedecked with fairy lights
and pictures of the god Ganesh, who is believed to overcome all obstacles.
