Eating right prevents malnutrition, obesity

Malnutrition is caused when the body does not meet its protein and calorie requirement. But in the present scenario one could see obesity, which is other form of malnutrition, Dr Prahlad of Kauvery hospital claims. “Malnutrition does not mean basically calorie and protein deficiency but also includes minerals, vitamin and iron deficiency. Malnutrition is a result of not knowing what to eat. A recent study across the country showed that the affluent women too are anemic,” he explained.

Though the situation in Tamil Nadu, which has an Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 21 - 1,000 live births, is better compared to many states in the country, rural women should be educated on the importance of nutrition and to ensure their children grew up healthily. The clinical forms of malnutrition viz. Kwashiorkor - nutritional bilateral oedema, Marasmus, which is severe loss of body weight or wasting and manifestation of both, affects the children leading to stunting and affecting other growth factors.

“Increasing the quantity may not help, but eating the right kind of food prevents malnutrition and obesity,” Dr Prahlad adds and suggests including a protein rich diet, especially a cup full of sprouts, egg white, milk daily. The nutritious meal programme of the state government and also the successful implementation of balwadi has seen an improvement in the overall health of the children. “But we are not seeing other spectrum of malnutrition which is obesity. This is becoming a huge problem among children. Many adolescents

are becoming vulnerable to diabetes due to savouring junk food and not exercising and several children are becoming insulin resistant too,” he claims.

His prescription to healthy life includes: reducing salt (in the form of pickles and appalams) cutting down the intake of sugary substance, taking oates and less quantity of rice and including more of vegetables and fruits.