ICMR, Health Ministry survey on NCDs reveal 98.4 percent adults consume inadequate fruits, veggies

"High intake of green veggies and fruits, less intake of sugar and salt exercise and outdoor activities are some of healthier habits which one can inculcate in his/her daily routine towards fit India and Eat Right India movement," said (Prof) Bhargava.

The survey was undertaken by the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) in collaboration with the Union Health Ministry during 2017-18.

"The purpose of the survey was to monitor, evaluate, and surveillance under the national NCD monitoring framework. This is the first of its kind of comprehensive survey on NCDs using standardized tools and methods. The estimated sample size for the survey was 12000 adults (18-69 years) and 1700 adolescents (15-17 year) males and females residing in urban and rural areas of the country," said Dr Lokesh Sharma, a scientist at the ICMR.

"The mean number of servings of fruit and/or vegetables per day was 1.7, which did not meet the WHO recommendations. The estimated mean salt intake per day was 8.0g (8.9g in men and 7.1g in women per day), and 45.4 percent practiced some steps (any) to lower daily salt intake," stated the findings.

"Mustard oil was the most frequently used oil for cooking (48.8 percent). One-third (33.9 percent) of the adolescent respondents reported consuming fresh fruits/fruit juices daily or at least once a week, while nearly half of them consumed fried items, chips/namkeen and chocolates daily or at least once a week," it said.

Pointing about the sedentary lifestyle, the survey noted: "The mean minutes spent being sedentary in a day were 308.9 minutes (men 290.5 minutes and women 328.5 minutes). A total of 3.5% of the surveyed adults practiced yoga, with a majority from the urban areas (6.3%) than rural areas (2.1%)."

"A quarter of (25.2%) adolescent respondents were insufficiently active and 64.2% reported being taught the benefits of physical activity at schools/colleges. The mean minutes of physical activity spent in school were 16.1 minutes per day, with 20.1 minutes spent by boys and 11.8 minutes by girls. The mean minutes spent being sedentary in a day were 340.7 minutes," the findings read.

The survey also revealed about the current tobacco use, i.e. 32.8 percent, while current alcohol use 15.9 percent, overweight (including obesity) 26.1 per cent, obesity 6.2 percent, raised blood glucose 9.3 percent and raised blood pressure 28.5 percent.

This indicates the prevalence of risk factors associated with NCDs amongst adults and adolescents, it said.

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