National Programmes to Improve Food Security and Nutritional Status

Dual nutrition burden in India is a challenge to the nutrition sector but this can also be considered as an opportunity for the health and nutrition services to show their mettle. The decline in under nutrition rates can be accelerated through the effective implementation of the Food Security Act, ongoing food supplementation of the vulnerable groups and improved access to health care for infections. Over nutrition (BMI>25) rates were less than 5% in the seventies and eighties. Over the last 15 years there has been a progressive but slow rise in over nutrition rates both in women and men. However over nutrition rates in India is still less than 15%. India has two major advantages in combating rising over nutrition rates. Unlike many developing countries economic growth in India was not associated with increased energy intake. Steep reduction in physical activity is the major factor responsible for the rise in over nutrition. The population is becoming aware that moderate physical activity is essential for optimal nutrition and health. If energetic steps are taken to promote discretionary physical activity in all segments of population it will be possible to prevent the projected rise in over nutrition. At present over half of the Indians are normally nourished. With the efforts to reduce under nutrition and steps to prevent escalation of over nutrition, it is possible that majority of Indians may remain normally nourished and not incur the health hazards associated with under and/or over nutrition.