Hyderabad, Oct 22: A group of 14 media professionals from Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday visited the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in Hyderabad, which has attained global recognition for its pioneering studies on various aspects of nutrition research.
NIN’s multi-disciplinary scientific team with a dedicated technical team works relentlessly to address the nutrition and health challenges faced by the people.
NIN provides evidence-based inputs on food and nutrient consumption patterns; and trends in the nutrition status of the population across age and physiological groups, including maternal and child nutrition.
Director-Incharge, ICMR-NIN Dr Santasabuj Das told the visiting J&K media professionals that nutrition is one of the most important environmental factors that determine the risk and outcome of many communicable and non-communicable diseases.
He said unhealthy dietary habits are the leading risk factor for disease burden contributing to more than half of the DALYS due to coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes in India.
“The prevention and reduction of communicable and non-communicable chronic diseases are intricately linked to various forms of malnutrition. Economically, the cost of poor nutrition is high due to premature deaths and strained health systems, which in turn impede economic progress. Good nutrition is a resource that surpasses the individual and influences the family, and the benefits are felt at the community level,” he said.
The group of scientists headed by Dr Subbarao, Dr M. Maheshwar, Dr G.Bhanuprakash Reddy, Dr J J Babu shared their valuable inputs about the research NIN is doing to eliminate all forms of malnutrition in India through healthy, sustainable and environment-friendly diets and lifestyles.
“NIN Generates high-quality evidence for tackling important public health nutrition problems like under nutrition, anaemia, iodine deficiency and various micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable population groups,” they said.
The scientists said NIN develops various intervention models to prevent and control malnutrition in India by conducting community-based trials (effectiveness trials).
The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in Hyderabad has conducted a study in Ladakh called the Diet and Biomarker Survey in India (DABS-I).
The study aims to provide insights into the nutritional habits, unexplored food recipes, and anaemia picture in Ladakh.
The scientists described it as a mission-mode project aimed at evaluating food and nutrient intake among various demographics, assessing the prevalence of anaemia and nutrient deficiencies, and analyzing food composition.
In June this year, the NIN launched the Nutrify India Now 2.0 (NIN 2.0) mobile app. This mobile app is designed to assist users in tracking their daily nutritional intake and physical activity.
NUTRIFY INDIA NOW 2.0 is a free lifestyle app developed by NIN ICMR for Android devices. This comprehensive app serves as your personal health assistant, catering to diverse needs by monitoring nutrition, physical activity, and overall well-being. The app aims to provide essential information on nutrients available in food and their daily requirements to promote good health and well-being. It offers data on raw foods and recipes with their nutrient composition to help users assess their nutritional status, required dietary allowance (RDA), daily food intake, and energy expenditure.
The media delegation from J&K visited different labs located at ICMR-NIN and senior scientists explained to them how they analyze dietary products, etc.
PIB Jammu & Kashmir is organizing the 5-day tour of 15 media professionals from J&K under the Central Sector Scheme 'Development Communication & Information Dissemination' to give the media in Jammu & Kashmir the opportunity to witness the development of various Government of India schemes in Telangana.
Shivacharan Reddy from PIB Hyderabad and other officials accompanied the Media delegation.