TELANGANA, OCTOBER 22: To reduce nutritional deficiency-related diseases in India, including Jammu and Kashmir, the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) is gathering data to devise a dietary strategy for each state and union territory.
To give an insight into the functioning of NIN, a group of 14 journalists from Jammu and Kashmir, led by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), were informed about the institute’s ongoing research programmes.
Dr Santasabuj Das, Director-In-Charge of ICMR-NIN, shared with the delegation that nutrition is one of the most important environmental factors determining the risk and outcome of many communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“Unhealthy dietary habits are the leading risk factor for disease burden, contributing to more than half of the DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years) due to coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes in India. The prevention and reduction of communicable and non-communicable chronic diseases are intricately linked to various forms of malnutrition. Economically, the cost of poor nutrition is high due to premature deaths and strained health systems, which in turn impede economic progress. Good nutrition is a resource that surpasses the individual and influences the family, with benefits felt at the community level,” he added.
The group of scientists, headed by Dr Subbarao, Dr M. Maheshwar, Dr G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, and Dr J. J. Babu, shared valuable inputs about the research NIN is doing to eliminate all forms of malnutrition in India through healthy, sustainable, and environment-friendly diets and lifestyles.
NIN generates high-quality evidence for tackling important public health nutrition problems such as undernutrition, anaemia, iodine deficiency, and various micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable population groups. It develops various intervention models to prevent and control malnutrition in India by conducting community-based effectiveness trials.
NUTRIFY INDIA NOW 2.0 is a free lifestyle app developed by NIN ICMR for Android devices. This comprehensive app serves as a personal health assistant, catering to diverse needs by monitoring nutrition, physical activity, and overall well-being. The app aims to provide essential information on nutrients available in food and their daily requirements to promote good health and well-being. It offers data on raw foods and recipes with their nutrient composition, helping users assess their nutritional status, required dietary allowance (RDA), daily food intake, and energy expenditure.
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in Hyderabad has conducted a study in Ladakh called the Diet and Biomarker Survey in India (DABS-I). The study aims to provide insights into nutritional habits, unexplored food recipes, and anaemia prevalence in Ladakh. The scientists described it as a mission-mode project aimed at evaluating food and nutrient intake among various demographics, assessing the prevalence of anaemia and nutrient deficiencies, and analysing food composition.
Media delegates had the opportunity to visit different labs at ICMR-NIN, where senior scientists explained how they analyse dietary products. The media tour aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of key Central Government institutions and landmarks in Hyderabad and Telangana. PIB Jammu & Kashmir is organising this tour under the Central Sector Scheme ‘Development Communication & Information Dissemination’, giving media professionals from Jammu & Kashmir the chance to witness the development of various Government of India schemes in Telangana. Shivacharan Reddy from PIB Hyderabad and other officials accompanied the media delegation.