Eat less white rice, increase protein consumption and physical activity for better health: ICMR-INDIAB study

Cholesterol abnormalities affected half the participants. Urban residents face higher risks due to sedentary habits, while dietary patterns dominated by high carbohydrate intake—mainly white rice, refined wheat, and added sugars—contribute significantly. Replacing some carbohydrates with protein from plant, dairy, egg, or fish sources reduces diabetes and prediabetes risks substantially. The study recommends public health policies to lower carbohydrate and saturated fat consumption while increasing protein intake to curb India’s growing metabolic disease epidemic. Without urgent intervention, the healthcare burden will intensify dramatically.

Reference: Anjana, R.M., Sudha, V., Abirami, K. et al. Dietary profiles and associated metabolic risk factors in India from the ICMR–INDIAB survey-21. Nat Med (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03949-4