Question: Discuss the extent, causes, and implications of ‘nutrition transition’ said to be underway in India.
(Civil Services Exam 2011, 150 Words)
Answer:
“Nutrition Transition” refers to the increased consumption of unhealthy foods which results into prevalence of overweight and obesity in a society. Nutrition transition is malnutrition ensuing not merely from a need for food, but the need for high-quality nourishment. Foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients such as fruits,vegetables, and whole grains have been substituted by foods heavy in added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium.
Extent in India:
Obesity has acquired epidemic proportions in India with 5 per cent of the population suffering from it.The women in urban areas in India suffer from obesity and overweight in much higher proportion. As per a survey 12% women are overweight and 2% obese.
Causes:
Various factors which have contribute to the growth of ‘nutrition transition’ are rapid urbanization, change in lifestyle especially in urban areas, upward shift in the income level of the households, prevalence of consumption culture,availability of imported food from the industrialized countries, lucrative marketing of junk food in the public media etc.
Implications:
In India bulk of the population is malnourished and the governmental spending on the public health are very low, thus nutrition transition can have severe implications on the productivity, national income and growth rate of the country. The nutritional transition is also the major cause of prevalence of non- communicable disease e.g. diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, renal disease etc.
“Nutrition Transition” refers to the increased consumption of unhealthy foods which results into prevalence of overweight and obesity in a society. Nutrition transition is malnutrition ensuing not merely from a need for food, but the need for high-quality nourishment. Foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients such as fruits,vegetables, and whole grains have been substituted by foods heavy in added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium.
Extent in India:
Obesity has acquired epidemic proportions in India with 5 per cent of the population suffering from it.The women in urban areas in India suffer from obesity and overweight in much higher proportion. As per a survey 12% women are overweight and 2% obese.
Causes:
Various factors which have contribute to the growth of ‘nutrition transition’ are rapid urbanization, change in lifestyle especially in urban areas, upward shift in the income level of the households, prevalence of consumption culture,availability of imported food from the industrialized countries, lucrative marketing of junk food in the public media etc.
Implications:
In India bulk of the population is malnourished and the governmental spending on the public health are very low, thus nutrition transition can have severe implications on the productivity, national income and growth rate of the country. The nutritional transition is also the major cause of prevalence of non- communicable disease e.g. diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, renal disease etc.