Editorial: Rich in carbs, poor in health

Sedentary lifestyle, coupled with the consumption of a high amount of carbohydrates, is playing havoc with public health in India

Carbs are the new age culprits. Coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, the consumption of a high amount of carbohydrates is playing havoc with public health in India. A shift towards diets dominated by carbs and processed foods is resulting in an alarming rise in obesity and diabetes. A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) has cautioned against unhealthy eating habits as they are directly linked to a high incidence of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, obesity, and heart ailments. The findings, published in ‘Nature Medicine’, revealed that 62 per cent of calories for Indians come from carbs, with rice, roti, and sugar being the most preferred food choices. Nutrition experts recommend increased protein consumption for a balanced diet. The survey, conducted in association with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, covered over 1.21 lakh adults across 30 States and Union Territories. It found that carbs dominate Indian plates mainly in the form of white rice in the South, East, and Northeast, and wheat flour in the North and Central regions. Sugar intake was also alarmingly high, with 19 States and Union Territories exceeding safe limits. Millets, despite being rich in nutrients, were staples in only a handful of States, such as Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Researchers warned that India is staring at a crisis that begins at the basic level of how people put together their meals. It’s a unique paradox that malnutrition and obesity co-exist in the country as serious public health problems.

While millions of children go to sleep with empty stomachs despite the country boasting of surplus food production, the changing eating habits and sedentary lifestyles are pushing millions of people, particularly in urban areas, towards obesity. Once seen as a problem of the affluent, obesity has now transcended economic and social barriers at an alarming rate. Multiple studies show that nearly 20 per cent of Indian households now have all adult members classified as overweight. The ICMR-INDIAB study linked high carbohydrate intake to a 15–30 per cent higher risk of type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, general obesity, and abdominal obesity. Importantly, even switching from refined white rice to whole wheat flour or millets did not reduce the risk if total carbohydrate intake stayed high. The survey also revealed that on average, only 12 per cent of calories came from protein, falling short of the recommended 15 per cent. Most of this protein is plant-based, coming from cereals, pulses, and legumes. The study provides yet another proof that rising prosperity does not automatically translate to a healthier diet. Indeed, what these findings make clear is that beyond tackling the recognised risks posed by overconsumption of salt-, fat– and sugar-laden ultra-processed, packaged snacks and drinks — increasingly evident across rural and urban parts of the country — there is an urgent need to address lack of awareness about the macronutrient composition of the average Indian’s diet.

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