Fighting Malnutrition
We all know that health is wealth and when heath is lost everything is lost. It is in this context that the case of malnutrition needs our urgent attention before it assumes the shape of an epidemic in our country.
Malnutrition results from the deficiency or larger intake of calories and one or more nutrients. Low income and poverty are the main contributory factors to the wide prevalence of malnutrition in our country. Apart from the nutritional deficiencies, problems such as traditional beliefs, fads and fallacies gives more strength to malnutrition. Recently there has been a rise in the sale and consumption of fast foods on the roadside. The growing pressure of population, increase in the number of working women, the breakdown the joint family system and increase n the cost of living force people to depend on such ready to eat foods. These foods have economic and nutritional implications. There is a need to insist on minimum quality and safety standards on an urgent basis, especially hygiene with regard to the street foods. Also, the prevalence of adulteration of food is adding to the menace. Adulteration deteriorates not only the quality of the food but also leads to deleterious effects.
While the problems of malnutrition is prevalent among the poor, there is also a simultaneous outcome of malnutrition among the rich urban class. Their lack of awareness about good nutrition is reflected in an increase in the incidence of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and cancer among the youth. The replacement of millets with refined rice or maida that leads to decreased fibre consumption, consumption of excess of refined calories and decreased physical activity are also the causative factors for the increasing occurrence of malnutrition.
Due to malnutrition resistance to diseases is lowered, which leads to lethargy and reduction of working efficiency. These lead to low income & standard of living , poverty etc. A good nutrition may provide people with more confidence in the survival of their infants and slower population growth. All these can improve the quality of life.
The magnitude and implications of the nutritional problems call for urgent action. A multi-pronged approach including increased production of food, its equitable distribution, nutrition intervention and nutrition education need to be considered as the most important focal areas.
As it has been found, generally children get affected from malnutrition. So, a nutritionally proper diet is essential for the growth and development of children. Appropriate diet during childhood will reduce the risk of diet-related disorders. Awakening to the call of good nutrition and practicing the basic principles from early childhood can go a long way to maintain the health and vigour of children. After all, healthy children will make a healthy nation.
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