Telangana’s Rural Health Alert: ICRISAT Study Links Obesity Surge to Excess Carbohydrate Consumption

ICRISAT Research Sheds Light on Telangana’s Rural Obesity Surge Caused by High Carbohydrate Intake

The International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) recently studied Hyderabad Rural Families in Telangana State and said that now the rural families are eating more carbohydrates as they are more affordable than sourcing limited protein and micronutrient-rich options. The Multidimensional Poverty Index Baseline Report 2021 by NITI Aayog said the study was taken up in Telangana State, where one in seven individuals is multi-dimensionally poor, which is less than the national average of one in four.

• A new study from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is reshaping our understanding of the Indoa Rural Health Crisis by shedding light on the unexpected causes driving the rise of rural obesity and malnutrition, ICRISAT said.

• The ICRISAT study is based on the lack of access to protein, the importance of traditional food systems, and nutrition-sensitive food supply chains.

• According to an ICRISAT study, people are eating more sugary packaged food because it is more readily available in stores and has a shorter shelf life than healthy fruits and vegetables.

• People who are moving to cities from rural areas also make changes in their diet because they are exposed to widespread packaged food advertising.

• Dr. Jacquline Hughes, Director General of ICRISAT, commended the study, stating that as policymakers navigate the nutritional challenge, the cost of inaction on the public health system would be outweighed by the cost of action.

Jacquline Hughes said there is a need to work closer with the food processing industry to blend heritage with health by making nutritious products such as millet more attractive to consumers. The proper way to address the problem is that the study suggests teaching people about nutrition, informing them about healthy foods, using digital tools to spread the message, and growing local food.

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The findings provide substantial evidence for policymakers to address the triple burden of malnutrition, the coexistence of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overnutrition in the rural areas of India, said Dr. Shalander Kumar, Cluster Leader, Markets Institutions, and the lead author of the study.