Dr Oishee Mukherjee
It is a well-known fact that malnutrition and under nutrition is a big problem in the country and this need to be tackled effectively. As per the Global Hunger Index, 15.2 per cent of the population that is, around 215 million Indians, have been found to be malnourished in the country though unofficial figures are more.
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) pegs the average Indian adult ideal protein-fat-carbohydrate (PFC) ratio at 20 per cent, 30 per cent and 60 per cent. According to a recent survey conducted in eight metros, the protein intake is low, whereas the fat intake is highest in the country’s capital, Delhi that thrives on parantha, milk/butter and samosa and related oil rich diets. Not just Delhi but in most other places of north India, such food habits affect heart-related diseases and hypertension, apart from resulting in obesity.
Other cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore consume more carbohydrate through their diet of rice, idli and dosa makes them susceptible to diabetes. Insofar as Kolkata is concerned, the intake of fish, lentils and other types of high protein intake “put people at lower risk for conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, obesity etc.”
The survey rightly pointed out that the lack of balanced diet has been leading to micronutrient deficiencies such as Vitamin D, iron and folic acid. These problems, as usual, mostly occur among the impoverished people who cannot afford a proper meal. It also reiterated the well-known contention that high consumption of fast food is another aspect of the problem, affecting mostly the rich and the middle income sections.
In fact, the continuous intake of junk food leads to hepatitis A, B, C and even cirrhosis of liver. According to unofficial figures, over 30 per cent of the city’s male population has been suffering from non-alcoholic liver disease, while the figure may be half in the case of women. Controlled lifestyle and consumption of more vegetables while leaving out oil-based foods, chocolates, cold drinks etc, it must be remembered can do wonders.
The survey further revealed the question of burning of calories, which is indeed an important problem for people residing in big cities. It found Kolkata burns a minimum of 209 kCal a day followed by Bangalore 232 kCal, Delhi 229 kCal and Mumbai kCal. Recent studies have shown that people residing in cities do less physical work compared with those in rural areas and this is the reason for lesser burning of calories.
While the spectre of the problem has been partly covered by the survey, in big cities the situation is completely different from that in the rural areas. In villages, under nutrition and malnutrition has been plaguing a major section of the population, some of which can be tackled by undertaking a proper awareness campaign. It has been found that even the economically weaker sections can afford a balanced diet at low cost which would be reasonably healthy.
The campaign has to reach the lowest tiers of the village for which the National Institute of Nutrition has a vital role to play. There is indeed a need to involve the civil society in spreading this awareness and also to ensure that the food given by the Government’s in Central welfare schemes – such as Mid Day Meal Scheme – should have the proper balance, as recommended by NIN. It, however, remains to be said that strengthening this organisation and having more offices all over the country is essential at this juncture.
The whole issue of healthy food has to be considered seriously and both Central and State governments have to join hands in this regard. If targets are set for electrifying all villages or proving affordable housing to all, then there should also be an action plan to bring down under nutrition and malnutrition as this would have an effect on curbing the growing incidence of diseases, obviously affecting the economically weaker sections.
Indeed, eating healthy food is being emphasised repeatedly by doctors and nutritionists but much of such advice by and large goes unheeded. Though, however, it also needs to be pointed out that certain sections of the population are becoming increasingly conscious of the need to eat such food that could keep them healthy and disease-free.
As is generally known, vegetables and fruits are beneficial to the growth of the body. Even the opposite sex are motivated to eat fruits – at least those who can afford it – to keep the skin glowing and for normal hair growth. Steadily the awareness about the need for taking nutritious food is being realised by the people.
The question of nutritious food reaching the poor and economically weaker sections is the biggest challenge for the country as this section does not have the resources to get proper treatment due to inadequate protein diet. It is for this section of people that low-cost and easily available vegetables and pulses need to be made available to them for better nutrition.
One may mention here of an observation made by a renowned doctor, wherein he said that if only one takes adequate quantity of rice or wheat, pulses and vegetables, then no food drink such as Horlicks or Complan is necessary for children/individuals growth. The vigorous advertising campaigns of these products, entailing crores of rupees, even compels poor people when ill to buy these food drinks which are absolutely not necessary. Even doctors who are influenced by pharmaceutical companies prescribe these drinks.
The situation is best exclaimed by Father Augustine, Registrar of Xavier University, Bhubaneswar who, at a recent seminar, aptly stated that while the urban rich and middle class consume enough/more food – both nutritious and fast food — and have to take recourse to various methods to digest it, including walking, exercising etc., the major section of our population are deprived of essential food for their survival and have to walk miles to procure this food.
There is serious concern about the need for proper and low-cost nutrition, which can be tackled if only the Panchayat and block officials are properly trained in this regard. The State governments have to play a crucial role, in association with institutions like NIN, for only then can poor and not-so-well educated people become conscious in the matter. The health of a nation is best judged by the health of its people. —INFA
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