India’s rapidly growing cities need stronger food governance, safer markets and better transport infrastructure to address rising obesity, malnutrition and diet-related diseases, according to experts examining urban food systems.
India’s expanding urban population is facing a growing nutrition challenge as changing lifestyles, food affordability and unequal access to healthy meals influence dietary habits.
A new analysis highlights the need for coordinated action between food systems, public health departments and municipal authorities to improve urban nutrition.
The issue is particularly important as urban households increasingly depend on purchased food. The Indian Council of Medical Research–India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study reported that 11.4% of Indian adults have diabetes, 35.5% have hypertension and 28.6% have generalised obesity.
These health conditions are generally more common in urban areas.The analysis also highlights a sharp rise in overweight and obesity among urban women aged 15 to 49, increasing from 13% in 2005–06 to 30.7% in 2023–24. At the same time, undernutrition and diet-related illnesses continue to affect communities.
Food Access and Safety Remain Major Concerns
Access to healthy food depends not only on availability but also on affordability, travel time, transport costs and market operating hours. Women, daily-wage workers and residents of informal settlements often face greater difficulties in accessing nutritious food.
Street vendors and traditional markets play an important role in providing affordable meals, particularly near workplaces and public transport hubs. However, many vendors lack access to clean drinking water, proper storage, temperature control and waste management facilities.
A study involving 170 street-food vendors in Pune identified significant gaps in basic food safety infrastructure, highlighting the need for better municipal support and hygiene facilities.
Need for Integrated Urban Food Policies
The analysis recommends mapping food supply networks, improving market infrastructure, providing safe vending zones and strengthening food safety training. It also calls for better walking and cycling facilities to connect residential areas, workplaces and food outlets.
Urban authorities should work together across transport, health, agriculture and municipal departments to build safer and more accessible food systems.
The findings underline that improving urban nutrition requires more than individual dietary changes. Better infrastructure, affordable healthy food and coordinated city planning are essential to creating healthier and more equitable Indian cities.
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