India is suffering a massive obesity epidemic among its middle classes, with millions of Indians now morbidly obese as a result of the Western fast food invasion.
The country's economic boom means wealthy young Indians aspiring to Western lifestyles are increasingly shunning traditional cuisine and choosing to eat from American chains such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut and KFC. The Indian fast food market is already worth £7bn, and this is expected to double by 2016.
BBC documentary filmmaker Anita Rani travelled to Mumbai to investigate, meeting some of India's most overweight teenagers, including Kaleb Shah, 13, who already weighs 15st and is having a gastric band fitted to prevent him overeating further.
'Chubby kids are traditionally seen as a sign of the family's wealth,' says Rani. 'And they tend to be referred to as "healthy", meaning not underfed.'
Medical professionals appear on Rani's documentary demanding the government takes a stand when it comes to selling fast food.
Regulation of the fast food industry is much looser in India than in Western countries, and wealthy Indians are susceptible to the lure of plentiful advertising and the promise of a Western lifestyle. Full story...
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The country's economic boom means wealthy young Indians aspiring to Western lifestyles are increasingly shunning traditional cuisine and choosing to eat from American chains such as McDonald's, Pizza Hut and KFC. The Indian fast food market is already worth £7bn, and this is expected to double by 2016.
BBC documentary filmmaker Anita Rani travelled to Mumbai to investigate, meeting some of India's most overweight teenagers, including Kaleb Shah, 13, who already weighs 15st and is having a gastric band fitted to prevent him overeating further.
'Chubby kids are traditionally seen as a sign of the family's wealth,' says Rani. 'And they tend to be referred to as "healthy", meaning not underfed.'
Medical professionals appear on Rani's documentary demanding the government takes a stand when it comes to selling fast food.
Regulation of the fast food industry is much looser in India than in Western countries, and wealthy Indians are susceptible to the lure of plentiful advertising and the promise of a Western lifestyle. Full story...
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