Nutrition Status & Non-Communicable Diseases – A Study

What is the issue?

• ‘National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau’ carried out an nationwide study during 2015-16.
• It established nutritional deficiencies and the increasing threat of Non-Communicable Disease – NCDs in urban India.

What does the study say?

• The study assessed the prevalence of Obesity, Hypertension & Diabetes and its relation to dietry and nutritional patterns.
• A survey was done among urban dwellers across 16 states (& union territories).
• The results point to an increase in the threat levels of NCD’s.
• Increased NCDs have mainly been attributed to changing food habits & unhealthy lifestyles.

What are the data points regarding NCDs?

• The survey has highlighted the prevalence of stunting, under-nutrition and obesity in children less than 5 years.
• U.P. had the highest proportion of underweight children at 43% which is followed by Madhya Pradesh at 32.3%.
• On the contrary Puducherry was ranked highest in obesity with 51% of the population obese followed by Tamil Nadu.
• Kerala was rated the highest in prevalence of hypertension & cholesterol (35%), while Bihar ranked at the bottom (19%).
• Diabetics also recorded high occurance in Puducherry and it topped the chart with 42% of its population diabetic.
• Notably, the Southern States had a poor record in most NCD domains.

What are the data points regarding Nutrition?

• Intake - Nutrition intake showed great diversity across the states.
• While Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported the highest intake of meat, Odisha recorded highest in green leafy vegetables (GLV).
• Madhya Pradesh was found to have the lowest intake of flesh foods and Kerala consumes the least greens.
• While highest intake of sugar and jiggery was in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Assam recorded highest intake of salt.
• Rajasthan topped in the intake of fats, oils, milk and milk products.
• On the whole, Indians were found to consume far less than the recommended quantum of several micro-nutrients and vitamins.
• Recommended Standards - An average Indian consumed only 24g/CU/day of ‘green leafy vegetables’ while the recommended level is 40g/CU/day,
• The Indian average intake of cereals and millets was also found to be lower than the Recommended Dietary Intake – RDI.  
• Only the intake of pulses and legumes at 42g/CU/day was found to be according to recommended standards.

Source: The Hindu