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Source– This post on NIN’s Dietary Guidelines has been created based on the article “With 56.4% of India’s total disease burden linked to unhealthy diets, what new nutrition guidelines prescribe” published in “The Indian Express” on 10 May 2024.
Why in the News?
With noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and diabetes on the rise, India’s National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has released comprehensive dietary guidelines targeting vulnerable groups, including pregnant and lactating women, children, and the elderly.
About NIN’s Dietary Guidelines
1. Addressing Disease Burden: Unhealthy diets contribute to approximately 4% of India’s disease burden. These guidelines stress the importance of dietary improvements to prevent NCDs such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
2. Focus on Vulnerable Groups: Optimal nutrition during critical periods like pregnancy, lactation, and early childhood is crucial for proper growth and development. Alarming rates of lifestyle-related conditions among children and adolescents underscore the need for targeted interventions.
3. Dual Nutrition Challenge: Micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent among children aged 1 to 19, alongside persistent concerns such as anaemia. Additionally, obesity rates have surged, highlighting the dual challenge of undernutrition and overnutrition.
4. Importance of Dietary Guidelines: The guidelines advocate for healthy dietary practices, including reducing salt intake and limiting consumption of highly processed foods. Tailored recommendations are provided for pregnant and lactating women, infants, children, and the elderly, emphasizing the consumption of nutrient-dense foods from diverse food groups.
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