The report points to unhealthy food environments as a major driver of rising obesity rates among children. But in today’s world, undernutrition can also lead to obesity,” explained Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Chairman of the Scientific Committee at IMA Cochin. “Sugary soft drinks, for example, are heavily advertised by celebrities and sold cheaply, yet they fuel obesity and diabetes,” Dr. Jayadevan added. Undernourished mothers often give birth to children predisposed to obesity later in life, especially when food becomes plentiful. “Without urgent action, the legacy of undernutrition may continue to haunt India and other developing nations, not through hunger alone, but through an epidemic of obesity and diabetes,” the experts cautioned.