NEW DELHI- The dramatic rise in diabetes and obesity among Indians is being driven by rapidly changing eating habits marked by a high intake of carbohydrates and saturated fat, alongside low protein levels, according to the latest evidence from the ICMR-India Diabetes study.
The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, reveals that most Indians derive a staggering 62 per cent of their calories from carbohydrates—one of the highest levels globally. Much of this comes from low-quality sources like white rice, milled whole grains, and added sugar, all associated with increased metabolic risk, including diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity. White rice dominates diets in South, East, and Northeast India, while wheat is more common in the North and Central regions.
High sugar intake is also a concern, with 21 states and union territories exceeding the national recommendation of less than 5 per cent of energy from added sugar.
The findings, based on a nationally representative sample of 1,21,077 adults from 36 states and union territories, showed that while average total fat intake stayed within national guidelines (less than 30 per cent of energy), saturated fat intake exceeded the recommended threshold for metabolic health (less than 7 per cent of energy) in all but four states: Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur. Conversely, consumption of monounsaturated and omega-3 polyunsaturated fats remains low across regions.
Overall, protein intake in India is suboptimal, averaging just 12 per cent of daily calories. Most protein comes from plant-based foods like cereals, pulses, and legumes (9 per cent of energy). Intakes of dairy and animal protein remain low nationwide (2 per cent and 1 per cent of energy, respectively).
“Our findings clearly show that typical Indian diets, heavy in carbohydrates from white rice or whole wheat flour, and low in quality protein, are putting millions at risk,” said lead author Dr. R.M. Anjana, President at MDRF. She stressed that simply switching from white rice to whole wheat or millets is insufficient unless total carbohydrate intake decreases and more calories come from plant or dairy proteins.
It is important to note that the study also showed that replacing carbohydrates with red meat protein or fats did not have the same protective effect. (IANS)