India's nutrition landscape has shifted from insufficient calorie intake to a dual challenge of rising obesity and pervasive micronutrient deficiencies, a phenomenon known as the 'double burden of malnutrition.' This paradox stems from diets increasingly dominated by calorie-dense, nutrient-poor processed foods.

India's nutrition landscape has shifted from insufficient calorie intake to a dual challenge of rising obesity and pervasive micronutrient deficiencies, a phenomenon known as the 'double burden of malnutrition.' This paradox stems from diets increasingly dominated by calorie-dense, nutrient-poor processed foods.

India's nutrition landscape has shifted from insufficient calorie intake to a dual challenge of rising obesity and pervasive micronutrient deficiencies, a phenomenon known as the 'double burden of malnutrition.' This paradox stems from diets increasingly dominated by calorie-dense, nutrient-poor processed foods.

For years, the conversation around nutrition in India was largely centred on whether people were eating enough. But as the country observes National Nutrition Week, experts say the challenge has become that Indians are increasingly eating enough calories, but not necessarily getting enough of the nutrients their bodies need.

The result is a paradox across age groups, that of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies existing alongside overweight, obesity and metabolic disorders.

"A diet can provide sufficient or even excessive calories while remaining poor in protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates, sugary beverages and foods high in salt and unhealthy fats can make up a significant part of the modern diet, particularly in urban areas," says Dr Nikita Garg, nutritionist and founder, Entech Wellness.

Nutrition experts say one of the biggest misconceptions is that being adequately fed automatically means being adequately nourished. A plate dominated by refined grains, for instance, may provide calories but leave little room for vegetables, fruits, pulses, nuts, seeds and other nutrient-dense foods. Similarly, frequent consumption of packaged snacks and sugar-sweetened drinks can add substantial calories without contributing much nutritional value.

This becomes particularly important for children and adolescents, whose nutritional requirements are closely linked to growth and development.

The concern is not restricted to obesity. Poor dietary diversity can contribute to deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D and other essential micronutrients, depending on an individual's diet and circumstances, say experts.

What are the challenges?

India's nutrition challenge is often described through separate categories, stunting and wasting on one side, and overweight and obesity on the other. But experts increasingly point to the double burden of malnutrition, where different forms of malnutrition can coexist within the same household, community or even individual.

A child may have micronutrient deficiencies while consuming a calorie-dense diet. An adult may be overweight but still have deficiencies because the diet lacks diversity. This makes the idea of simply reducing calories an inadequate approach to nutrition.

Dr Phulrenu Chavan, a practicing endocrinologist at Hinduja hospital says that weight and BMI alone should not be the measurement of good health. "Improving nutrition does not necessarily mean following expensive diets or eliminating individual foods altogether. Instead, the emphasis should be on dietary diversity and balance."

Pulses and other protein sources, vegetables, fruits, whole grains or less-refined cereals, nuts and seeds can form the foundation of a more nutrient-dense diet. The frequency of ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks and foods high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats can also be reduced, says Chavan.

But food prices, convenience, work schedules, school environments and aggressive marketing can all influence what people eat. National Nutrition Week, therefore, offers an opportunity to rethink what nutrition means. The goal is not merely to ensure that people consume enough food, but to ensure that the food they consume supports growth, immunity, muscle health and long-term metabolic health.

As India faces the simultaneous challenges of nutritional deficiencies and rising obesity and lifestyle-related diseases, the question may no longer be simply “Are we eating enough?”, rather, Are we eating the right mix of foods to stay healthy?

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