In a food court in Hyderabad, a group of teenagers gathers around a phone,
watching videos of shawarmas and rolls. One boy points to a trending dish,
and the others quickly agree. Their order is decided within seconds.
Researchers from the ICMR–National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in Hyderabad
say scenes like this are now common in Indian cities.
Their new study shows that teenagers choose food mainly for taste, approval from
friends, and social media trends, paying little attention to nutrition or
long-term health.
The study, published in PLOS Global Public Health, surveyed 869 school students
in Delhi and Hyderabad. It found that Instagram posts, YouTube suggestions, and
celebrity-endorsed snacks influence teens more than information about what is
healthy for their bodies.