India, Sept. 21 -- Every September, Poshan Maah brings nutrition into national focus. It is also an opportunity to ask a larger question: Are we investing enough in preventing tomorrow's health problems, or are we still largely preparing to treat them after they appear?

Today, India faces multiple nutrition and health challenges. Maternal and child nutrition and persistent undernutrition remain concerns. At the same time, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising. And as India grows older, healthy ageing will become an increasingly important public health priority.

These may appear to be separate challenges. In reality, they are connected across the life course.

India has rightly invested sub...