New Era in Nutrition: ICMR Revises Dietary Guidelines for Indians

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) have recently released a set of 17 dietary guidelines aimed at preventing nutrient deficiencies and addressing the growing risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in India. These guidelines, which underwent rigorous academic and scientific review, are designed to ensure diet diversity and meet the requirements of essential nutrients for people of all age groups across the country.

The guidelines emphasize the importance of a balanced diet, incorporating vegetables and legumes, and highlight the need for nutritionally rich foods for pregnant and lactating mothers, infants, children, and adolescents. They also stress the importance of eating safe, clean food and drinking adequate amounts of water. Additionally, the guidelines caution against the use of protein supplements for building body mass and recommend restricting salt intake, moderating oil and fat consumption, and adopting a healthy lifestyle to prevent obesity.

The ICMR-NIN Director, Hemalatha R., emphasized that the guidelines are a logical, sustainable, and long-term solution to all forms of malnutrition, ensuring the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutrient-rich foods while promoting consumption of diverse foods. The guidelines are also consistent with the goals set in the national policies on Agriculture and Health.

The revision of dietary guidelines is crucial in light of the significant changes in dietary habits over the past few decades, leading to an increase in NCDs while undernutrition persists. The guidelines are designed to be easily understandable and practicable, enabling individuals to make informed choices about their food and lifestyle to prevent diet-related NCDs.

The release of these guidelines marks a significant step forward in the fight against malnutrition and NCDs in India. It is essential that these guidelines are disseminated effectively to the public and that healthcare professionals are trained to provide guidance based on these recommendations. The ICMR-NIN’s commitment to revising dietary guidelines based on emerging scientific evidence and the changing food landscape ensures that the guidelines remain relevant and effective in addressing the evolving nutritional needs of the Indian population.

Q&A

Q: What are the key highlights of the new dietary guidelines released by ICMR and ICMR-NIN?

A: The key highlights of the new dietary guidelines include:

Recommendations for a balanced diet, increased consumption of vegetables and legumes

Emphasis on nutrition for pregnant and lactating mothers, infants, children, and the elderly

Advice on eating safe and clean food, and drinking adequate water

Caution against using protein supplements for building body mass

Recommendations to restrict salt intake, moderate oil and fat consumption, and adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent obesity

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Q: Why were these dietary guidelines revised by ICMR and ICMR-NIN?

A: The dietary guidelines were revised to address the changing food scenario in India, which has led to an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, while some problems of undernutrition continue to persist.

Q: How were the new guidelines developed?

A: The new guidelines were developed through a rigorous academic and scientific review process by the expert committee at ICMR-NIN. They are designed to be easily understandable and practicable for ensuring diet diversity and meeting the requirements of essential nutrients.

Q: What is the significance of these revised dietary guidelines for the Indian population?

A: The revised dietary guidelines are significant as they provide evidence-based, practical recommendations to prevent nutrient deficiencies and address the rising risk of NCDs in India. They aim to ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutrient-rich foods while promoting the consumption of diverse foods.

Q: How do these guidelines align with national policies on agriculture and health?

A: The dietary guidelines are consistent with the goals set in the national policies on Agriculture and Health, as they focus on ensuring the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutrient-rich foods to address all forms of malnutrition.

Q: What is the role of healthcare professionals in implementing these dietary guidelines?

A: Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in disseminating the dietary guidelines and providing guidance to the public based on these recommendations. Effective training of healthcare professionals is essential to ensure the successful implementation of these guidelines.

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Q: How often does ICMR-NIN revise the dietary guidelines for Indians?

A: ICMR-NIN revises the dietary guidelines for Indians from time to time, based on emerging scientific evidence and the changing food landscape in the country. The most recent nutrient requirements for Indians were released by ICMR-NIN in 2020.