Nutrition & Diet Practice in India

For children 1-5 years of age, the prevalence of underweight ranged from 13% in the State Meghalaya to 77% in Gujarat. The prevalence of stunting ranged from 20% in Goa to 83% in Gujarat.

  • The distribution of stunting coincides almost exactly with that of underweight, i.e. the highest prevalence of stunting were observed in the same States as those of underweight. As for underweight and stunting, wasting is a serious public health problem in most States.
  • The distribution of wasting does not coincide with that of stunting and underweight except for the States of Madhya Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh which show the worst nutritional situation of all States in India.
  • The States of Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha are highly affected by adult malnutrition with more than half of the adults having a Body Mass Index (BMI) under 18.5 kg/m2. Patterns of child and adult malnutrition overlap in that both show extremely poor nutritional status in the states of Gujarat, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
  • In the last 20 years, there has been an improvement in the nutritional status of the Indian population. This improvement results from not only changes in food intake but also socio-economic factors, increased availability of potable water, lower morbidity and improvement of health facilities.
  • In adults, average BMI values were similar for both males and females. About 50% of the adult population had a BMI below 18.5 kg/m2 while only a negligible proportion were overweight or obese.
  • In a few States such as Arunachal Pradesh, obesity and correlated diseases are becoming a public health problem.

Importance of Nutrition

Nutrition is the science or practice of consuming and utilising foods. Food provides our body with energy, protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals to live, grow and function properly. Therefore, a balanced diet is important for good health and wellbeing. It is said that an unhealthy diet increases the risk of many diet-related diseases. Good Nutrition is necessary because-

  • With a poor diet well-being is reduced.
  • Helps to manage healthy weight.
  • Maintains immune system.
  • Provide energy.
  • Delays the effect of ageing.
  • Reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
  • Healthy eating also affects your mood positively.
  • Healthy diet increases life span.

Malnutrition in India

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and nutrients. The term malnutrition covers two broad groups of conditions -

  • Under-nutrition: which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals).
  • Over nutrition: overweight, obesity and diet-related non- communicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer).

Constitutional Provision Regarding Nutrition

Directive Principles of State Policy under Part IV of our Indian Constitution has the provision regarding the nutrition and public health.

  • Article 47 says that the State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.

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