Chennai: The recent National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reportedly showed that despite economic growth during the last few years in India, 14 per cent of India’s population is undernourished.
More than 30 per cent children under five years are stunted and more than 50 per cent children, young girls and women are anaemic (nutritional deficiency of iron and other essential minerals, and vitamins in the body).
In addition to undernutrition, changes in diet and lifestyle have led to obesity which is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart diseases and Type 2 diabetes.
It is estimated that 19 per cent of men and 21 per cent of women are obese and 73 million adults are affected by diabetes.
There is no quick fix to this alarming problem. It would just mean looking at health and nutrition in a more holistic manner to ensure better quality and quantity of food and a healthy lifestyle, says Dr Neerja Hajela, head of science and regulatory affairs, Yakult Danone India.
“However, nutrition loses its meaning if the food that we eat is not being taken up by the body. Therefore, getting the best from the food we eat is only possible if the intestine is healthy.”