Think Before Diet

THE NEW dietary guidelines issued by the National Institute of Nutrition ( NIN) prescribe meals with too many calories for those living a sedentary lifestyle, say dieticians concerned about the rising incidence of obesity in the country.


For any adult leading a sedentary lifestyle, the ideal breakfast would include half a cup of milk ( 100 ml), either two cups of tea or one cup of coffee, and either of these: four idli s or three dosa s, or one- and- a- half cups upma , or four slices of bread, or two cups of porridge or two cups of corn flakes with milk, or one cup of poha or two slices of toast or four pieces of dhokla , according to the guidelines of NIN.


"For anybody who leads a sedentary lifestyle, say for those working in the corporate sector, this kind of breakfast will have more calories than actually needed,” points out Shilpa Thakur, dietician, Asian Heart Institute of Medical Sciences.


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While the whole set of guidelines goes perfectly well with the right emphasis on fitness, they falter specifically when it comes to deciding the food platter for those living a sedentary lifestyle. “ With most of the urban Indians doing desk jobs, and obesity being a major problem, this is not an apt diet plan,” she adds.


"Sedentary lifestyle today does not apply to those sitting at home alone, but to all those who are settled with desk jobs, and that includes a sizeable number of the population. For example, three slices of bread for a woman with not much of physical activity spells too many calories,” says Rekha Sharma, president, Indian Diabetic Association.


Indians already lag behind when it comes to a proper diet and fitness regime. While the ideal BMI at the international level is 23, it is 25 for Asians.


Obesity and diabetes related problems are prevalent in one out of every 10 persons. “ It is better to cut down those extra calories instead of spending a lifetime trying to burn them, which is not practically possible,” Dr Sharma adds.


Despite the fact that it hasn’t addressed obesity, the positive thing about this diet plan is that it emphasises fitness.