New Delhi, Sep 30 (NationPress) The evolving dietary patterns characterized by a high consumption of carbohydrates and saturated fats, coupled with a deficiency in protein, are significant contributors to the alarming rise in diabetes and obesity rates among the Indian population, according to findings from the Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study released on Tuesday.

The study, featured in the journal Nature Medicine, indicated that a remarkable 62 percent of the caloric intake for most Indians is derived from carbohydrates, positioning India among the highest globally.

A considerable portion of these carbohydrates comes from low-grade sources such as white rice, milled whole grains, and added sugars, which are linked to heightened metabolic risks, including diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity.

In the South, East, and Northeast, white rice is a staple, while wheat is predominant in the North and Central regions.

The excessive consumption of sugar is alarming, as 21 states and union territories surpass the national guideline of less than 5 percent of energy from added sugars, as revealed by researchers from the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai.

The cross-sectional study encompassed a nationally representative sample of 121,077 adults from both urban and rural locales across 36 states and union territories.

Results showed that while the average total fat intake remained within national recommendations (below 30 percent of energy), saturated fat intake surpassed the recommended limit for metabolic health (7 percent of energy) in all but four states: Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur.

Consumption of monounsaturated and omega-3 polyunsaturated fats remains insufficient across the country.

Overall protein consumption in India is inadequate, averaging only 12 percent of daily calories, with the Northeast region having the highest intake at 14 percent of energy.

The majority of protein in Indian diets is derived from plant sources like cereals, pulses, and legumes (9 percent of energy), while dairy and animal protein intake varies significantly but remains low across the nation (2 percent of energy and 1 percent of energy, respectively).

“Our research clearly indicates that conventional Indian diets, which are high in carbohydrates from white rice or whole wheat flour and low in quality protein, are endangering millions. Merely switching from white rice to whole wheat or millets is insufficient unless the total carbohydrate intake is reduced and more calories come from plant or dairy proteins,” stated lead author Dr. R.M. Anjana, President at MDRF.

Crucially, the study found that substituting carbohydrates with red meat protein or fats did not yield the same protective benefits.

“These nationwide insights should motivate policy changes, particularly concerning food subsidies and public health communications aimed at encouraging Indians to adopt diets that are richer in plant-based and dairy proteins, while being lower in carbohydrates and saturated fats,” emphasized Dr. V. Mohan, the senior author of the study and Chairman of MDRF.

He highlighted that such dietary modifications could reverse current nutritional trends, address widespread protein deficiencies, and enhance the overall quality of the diet.