culinary food eat
Food is the foundation of health. For centuries, what we ate was simple, seasonal, and local—grains, fruits, vegetables, and fresh produce cooked at home. Families gathered around meals, children played outside, and the concept of “lifestyle diseases” was almost unheard of. Today, the very food that should nourish us has become a silent weapon fuelling obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. The crisis is global, sparing no nation, no age group, and no community. What was once the privilege of a few wealthy countries is now a worldwide epidemic, striking hardest at children and young adults.
The Global Picture: When Food Turns Toxic
The world has shifted from hunger to excess, but this excess is deceptive. Today’s plates are often loaded with empty calories—high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, yet poor in essential nutrients. Packaged snacks, ultra-processed meals, and fizzy drinks dominate diets, offering convenience at the cost of health. The very food that should sustain us has turned into a silent toxin, fuelling a global health emergency.
According to the World Health Organization (2024):
- 2.5 billion adults were overweight in 2022, of which 890 million were classified as obese—a number that has nearly tripled since 1975.
- Childhood obesity has quadrupled since 1990, with over 390 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 overweight or obese today.
- Poor diets have now become the leading cause of early death and disability worldwide, surpassing even tobacco use as the top health risk.
These numbers reveal a chilling reality: we are eating ourselves into illness. Unlike infectious diseases, obesity is not spread by germs but by global food chains, advertising tactics and lifestyle shifts. The tragedy is that malnutrition now exists in two forms:
- Undernutrition (hunger and stunting in poorer regions), and
- Overnutrition (obesity and diabetes in wealthier or urban regions).
Both are driven by the same flawed food system that prioritizes profit over public health.
Worse still, obesity is no longer just a health condition—it is a gateway epidemic that opens the door to diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and even certain cancers. Its spread among children and young adults means the next generation could live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents—a reversal not seen in modern history.
The Rise of Lifestyle Diseases
Obesity acts as the gateway to a host of lifestyle disorders:
- Type 2 Diabetes: Closely linked to excess sugar and refined carbohydrates.
- Cardiovascular Disease: Triggered by diets high in salt, fat, and processed foods.
- Certain Cancers: Strongly associated with obesity and poor dietary habits.
- Mental Health Struggles: Anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression often accompany obesity.
For children and young adults, the danger is sharper. A child who is obese at 10 is far more likely to suffer from diabetes and heart disease before 30—a health trajectory that was rare in earlier generations.
Yesterday vs. Today: A Tale of Two Lifestyles
The contrast between past and present lifestyles reveals why obesity has surged:
Earlier Generations:
- Walked or cycled to schools and workplaces.
- Played outdoors daily, often until sunset.
- Ate fresh, home-cooked meals with whole grains and seasonal produce.
- Had limited exposure to packaged foods.
- Maintained consistent sleep routines.
Today’s Generation:
- Relies on vehicles and spends long hours sitting.
- Spends more time on screens than in playgrounds.
- Consumes fast food and processed snacks regularly.
- Eats alone or in a hurry, often while watching TV or scrolling on phones.
- Sleeps late and irregularly due to digital distractions.
The shift was driven by urbanization, busy work schedules, food delivery apps, and aggressive marketing of junk food. Convenience won over health, but at a steep price.
Food as Medicine: The Path Forward
To reverse this crisis, food must return to its rightful role as healer, not harm. Solutions must work at every level:
For Families:
- Bring back home-cooked meals with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
- Replace sugary drinks with water, milk, or traditional beverages like buttermilk.
- Make family meals screen-free, encouraging mindful eating.
For Schools & Youth:
Schools play a defining role in shaping eating habits. A powerful example comes from Japan’s school lunch model, where every child receives a balanced meal of rice, vegetables, fish or meat, and milk—prepared fresh and eaten together in classrooms. Junk food is strictly avoided, and nutrition lessons are built into daily education. This model has helped Japan maintain one of the lowest childhood obesity rates in the developed world.
If adapted in other countries, this approach could ensure that children grow up with both healthy bodies and healthy food cultures.
For Society & Policy:
- Impose taxes on sugary beverages and processed foods.
- Subsidize fresh produce to make it more affordable.
- Mandate clear, front-of-pack food labelling.
- Restrict junk food advertising aimed at children.
- Design cities with parks, cycling tracks, and open spaces to encourage activity.
Another inspiring case comes from India’s Millet Push, where the government reintroduced traditional grains like ragi, jowar, and bajra into the public distribution system, midday meal schemes, and even international food campaigns. Millets are not only rich in fibre, iron, and minerals but also help prevent obesity and diabetes. By reviving what was once the staple of Indian households, India is proving that solutions often lie in our own forgotten traditions.
Conclusion: A Call to Reclaim Our Health
Obesity is not just about body weight; it is about the weight of a broken food system, a sedentary lifestyle, and neglected priorities. It is a disease created by modern living, but it can be defeated by conscious choices.
Our grandparents lived healthier lives not because they had advanced medicines, but because they had balanced diets, active routines, and stronger food cultures. We must learn from them, not in nostalgia but as a blueprint for survival.
Today’s children deserve more than a future burdened with diabetes and heart disease. They deserve a world where food heals, not harms. That future depends on what we put on our plates today.
Final Message
The fight against obesity is not about chasing size-zero ideals—it is about reclaiming our right to health. If we change our food, we can change our lives. If we reform our lifestyle, we can transform the future of entire generations.
Let us not allow the weight of unhealthy food and habits to crush the promise of tomorrow. The choice is on our plates—every single day.
About the Author
