Changing Food Purchasing and Consumption Habits among Urban Middle-Classes in Hyderabad

This preparatory case study provides an overview on the issue of changing food purchasing and food consumption habits among urban middle-classes in the South Indian emerging mega-city of Hyderabad. It analyses how food purchasing and dietary habits in this specific urban stratum are subject to profound changes due to increasing spending capacity and changing lifestyles in the context of economic liberalisation and globalisation processes. Another objective of the study examines health aspects of the changing food consumption habits. While nutrition research previously focused on the serious problem of undernutrition- related nutrient deficits, recent data shows that overweight and nutrition-related chronic diseases are more and more becoming serious problems particularly among India`s emerging urban middle-classes. Questionnaires and several interviews were carried out to collect empirical data on these issues. Embedded in a broad literature review, results, consequences, and challenges of changing food purchasing and consumption habits are discussed. The findings point to the necessity for further action-research