The nutritional journey of a child is increasingly marked by two contrasting concerns — babies who do not receive adequate breastfeeding in their earliest months and older children consuming excessive amounts of ultra-processed and junk foods.
Doctors warn that this combination could have serious consequences for India’s future health, increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease from a young age.
The warning came during an awareness programme organised recently by the Department of Paediatrics at Swami Dayanand Hospital, Delhi, to mark World Breastfeeding Week.
Paediatricians and public health experts stressed that the foundations of lifelong health are laid in the earliest years, with breastfeeding and balanced nutrition playing a critical role.
However, noted the doctors, they are increasingly encountering children with complaints such as stomach pain, constipation, dental problems and urinary issues. Many, they noted, regularly consume biscuits, chips, namkeens, burgers, pizzas, momos and soft drinks while eating fewer fruits, vegetables and nutritious home-cooked meals.
Dr Punit Sharma, president of the East Delhi chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, cautioned parents against making packaged and highly processed foods a regular part of children's diets.
“If these habits continue, we could see a generation increasingly vulnerable to obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease at an early age,” he said, stressing the importance of traditional, home-cooked Indian food.
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At the other end of the nutritional spectrum is the declining practice of breastfeeding. Experts said babies who miss out on adequate breastfeeding may lose an important early source of nutrition and protection against infections.
Dr Ajay Gupta, President of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Delhi, said breast milk should be prioritised over unnecessary dependence on infant formula. He also cautioned that some families unable to afford formula may dilute it, potentially compromising adequate nutrition. Poorly sterilised feeding bottles can further expose infants to infections.
Dr Yangla, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Swami Dayanand Hospital, said breast milk provides essential nutrients required for a baby's growth and development.
“Breast milk remains the best source of nutrition for babies during the first six months,” she said, emphasising its role in supporting healthy growth and brain development.
The concern, doctors said, does not end after infancy. As children grow, their dietary environment often changes dramatically, with convenience foods increasingly replacing nutritious meals. The growing availability and aggressive promotion of packaged snacks, sugary beverages and fast food have made unhealthy choices easier and more attractive to children.
Dr Surender Singh Bisht, Head of the Department of Paediatrics at Swami Dayanand Hospital, said the awareness programme sought to bring families and healthcare workers together to strengthen understanding of breastfeeding and healthy childhood nutrition.
The programme, organised in collaboration with Bharat Vikas Parishad, included awareness sessions, interaction with parents and a street play aimed at communicating health messages in simple language. ASHA workers, paediatricians, nurses and other healthcare professionals participated.
Swami Dayanand Hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr Sunita Kujjur also stressed the importance of supporting mothers during breastfeeding. “A mother's milk is the best gift a newborn can receive,” she said, adding that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides complete nutrition, strengthens immunity and helps protect babies from infections.
Health experts point out that the percentage of infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months rose from 54.9% in NFHS-4 to 63.7% in NFHS-5, but fell again to 55.8% in NFHS-6.
At the same time, childhood obesity in India is on the increase. The country accounts for roughly 11% of the global childhood obesity burden, with numbers projected to climb to 56 million by 2040.
