Comparison of dietary profile of a rural south Indian population with the current dietary recommendations for prevention of non-communicable diseases (CURES 147).

Background & objectives: Despite the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in rural India, data on the dietary profile of the rural Indian population in relation to the recommendations for prevention of NCDs are scarce. This study was conducted to assess the dietary intake of a rural south Indian population in relation to the current dietary recommendations for the prevention of NCDs. Methods: The dietary profiles of 6907 adults aged ≥ 20 yr, from a cluster of 42 villages in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu State in southern India, were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of general obesity was 27.4 per cent and that of abdominal obesity, 14.0 per cent among this rural population. The median daily energy intake of the population was 2034 (IQR 543) kcals. More than 3/4th of the calories (78.1%) were provided by carbohydrates. Refined cereals, mainly polished rice, was the major contributor to total calories. About 45 per cent of the population did not meet WHO recommendation for protein due to low intake of pulses, flesh foods and dairy products and more than half (57.1%) exceeded the limit of salt intake; 99 per cent of the population did not meet WHO recommendations for fruits and vegetables and 100 per cent did not meet the requirement of n-3 poly unsaturated fatty acids. Interpretation & conclusions: The dietary profile of this rural south Indian population reflected unhealthy choices, with the high consumption of refined cereals in the form of polished white rice and low intake of protective foods like fruits, vegetables, n-3 poly and monounsaturated fatty acids. This could potentially contribute to the increase in prevalence of NCDs like diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in rural areas and calls for appropriate remedial action.

Slowing the diabetes epidemic in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region: the role of diet and physical activity.

The nutrition transition occurring in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region, as a result of rapid urbanization and economic development, has perhaps made this region one of the epicentres of the diabetes epidemic. This review attempts to evaluate the role of diet and physical inactivity in the South-East Asia Region in promoting this epidemic and points to strategies to slow it down by lifestyle modification. The emerging new food-production technologies and supermarkets have made energy-dense foods more easily available. This includes refined carbohydrate foods like those with added sugars, and refined grains and unhealthy fats. In addition, increased availability of modern technology and motorized transport has led to decreased physical activity. South Asian diets tend to be based on high-carbohydrate foods, with a predominance of refined grains. All of these accentuate the risk of diabetes in people of this region, who already have a unique “south Asian phenotype”. However, there is increasing evidence that altering diet by replacing refined cereals like white rice with whole grains (e.g. brown rice) and increasing physical activity can help to prevent diabetes in highrisk individuals. An urgent, concerted effort is now needed to improve diet quality and encourage physical activity, by introducing changes in policies related to food and built environments, and improving health systems to tackle noncommunicable diseases like diabetes.