(P02-034-23) Comparison of Diets in India With the EAT-Lancet Dietary Guidelines

Objectives: Very few studies have compared Indian diets with the EAT-Lancet guidelines, which represent environmentally sustainable diets for promoting planetary health. We used primary dietary data from adults in north and south India for such a comparison.

Methods: Data from 8762 adults (mean 52.4±11.7 years) from North (Sonipat) and South (Vizag), India, were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, wealth index (calculated using household assets), and dietary intake. The quantity consumed and energy from each food group was compared with EAT-Lancet guidelines. We studied the likelihood of having inadequate and excess consumption by different socio-demographic factors controlling for age.

Results: Half of the study participants were women and resided in rural areas. Food groups like fruits and vegetables were consumed inadequately while dairy and added fats were consumed in excess amounts, when compared with the EAT-Lancet recommendations. For fruits and vegetables, those belonging to the poorest wealth index and residing in rural areas had a higher likelihood to fall into the deficient or no consumption category; while rural residence and poor wealth index were found to be associated with excess consumption of dairy and added fats (p < 0.05, all).

Conclusions: Considering widespread malnutrition in India, urgent policy actions for making healthy sustainable diets and micronutrient-rich foods with lower environmental impacts available and affordable, especially for rural and disadvantaged populations are essential.

Funding Sources: Wellcome Trust, UK