New Delhi, April 6
Edelweiss Mutual Funds CEO Radhika Gupta has suggested a practical solution to deal with the growing problem of obesity in India.
Taking to social media platform X, she urged restaurants to start offering ‘half-plate’ options on their menu. According to her, this step can help people eat in moderation, reduce food wastage, and even boost restaurant revenues.
"I am glad we are talking about obesity as a problem so widely. It is critical," Gupta wrote. She said it’s good to see that obesity is finally being discussed seriously in the country.
"One basic suggestion I have for restaurants is to include half-portion options for all meals. Many people prefer eating less but end up finishing everything on the plate because we Indians don’t like wasting food,†she said.
“Sometimes sharing isn’t possible when you’re ordering alone. So why not price the half meals a little more than 50 per cent of the full portion, if that works financially? This would allow customers to eat less without wasting food or overspending," Gupta stated.
Radhika Gupta’s comments came shortly after Let’s Fix Our Food (LFOF) -- a group led by the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition -- raised concern over the poor food environment in India.
According to them, 24 per cent of adolescents in the country are underweight, while more than 1.7 crore children and teens are obese.
Her suggestion was welcomed by many social media users as obesity is a rising global concern in recent times.
According to recent studies published in ‘The Lancet’, over 3.8 billion people -- more than half of all adults worldwide -- could be overweight or obese by 2050.
In 2021, around 2.11 billion people were classified as overweight or obese, with India ranking second globally with 18 crore such people. China topped the list with over 40 crore obese individuals.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is such a brilliant idea! I always feel guilty leaving food on my plate but struggle to finish full portions. Half-plate options would be a game-changer for solo diners like me. ðŸ‘
While I appreciate the sentiment, I'm not sure restaurants will adopt this. Their business model relies on selling full portions. Maybe better labeling of portion sizes would help customers make informed choices?
Love this proposal! I've been asking for half portions for years, especially at fancy restaurants where portions are huge. It's not just about obesity - think of all the food waste we could prevent! â™»ï¸
Great to see influential people talking about practical solutions. The obesity stats are shocking - we need more awareness and action at all levels. Half portions could be a small but meaningful start.
I respectfully disagree with the pricing suggestion. If I'm getting half the food, I should pay half the price. The "little more than 50%" idea seems unfair to customers on a budget.
As someone who's struggled with weight issues, I wish more restaurants offered this! It's so hard to resist finishing your plate when you've paid for it. Smaller portions = healthier choices. 💪
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.