Sushmi Dey | TNN | Apr 7, 2019, 06:36 IST
NEW DELHI: Unhealthy diet is responsible for more premature
deaths than tobacco, high blood pressure or any other health risk, a new study
published in Lancet has indicated. Dietary risks were the second biggest factor
behind deaths and disabilities in 2017 in India, following on the heels of
malnutrition.
Dietary risk in India has also increased by 35% in a decade since 2007 when it
ranked fourth after malnutrition, air pollution and the risk of water,
sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Though malnutrition continues to top the list of risk factors driving most
deaths and disabilities in India, its overall impact has declined by 35.3%.
While sugar and transfats are harmful, the study highlights the impact of the
low consumption of healthy diet constituting of vegetables, fruits, whole
grains, nuts and legumes.
In India, low intake of whole grains was the leading dietary risk factor for
deaths and disability, findings of the study show. Heart attacks and strokes
are the main diet-related causes of death, followed by cancers and type 2
diabetes, say researchers.
“Although sodium,
sugar, and fat have been the main focus of diet policy debate in the past two
decades, our assessment shows that the leading dietary risk factors for
mortality are diets high in sodium, low in whole grains, low in fruit, low in
nuts and seeds, low in vegetables, and low in omega-3
fatty acids; each accounting for more than 2% of global deaths,” the study said
suggesting a global shift in policy to promote healthy diet while reducing
unhealthy foods such as sweetened beverages and junk food high on salt and
trans-fat.
The research is part of the Global Burden of Disease study by Seattle-based
Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
However, the findings have also raised concerns among nutrition experts in
India, who feel the study is shifting the focus of debate from unhealthy food.
“While I don’t disagree that people should eat more of whole grains and
vegetables etc, the research is not dealing with marketing of unhealthy foods
which leads to displacement of healthy foods,” renowned nutrition advocate Arun
Gupta says.
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Globally, poor diet was responsible for 10.9 million deaths, or 22% of all
deaths among adults. Additionally, 255 million disability-adjusted life years
(DALYs) — which equal the sum of life years lost and years lived with
disability — were because of poor diet. Cardiovascular
disease was the leading cause, followed by cancers and diabetes.
Nearly half – 45% – were in people younger than 70.
The study found that eating and drinking better could prevent one in five deaths
around the world.
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