Poor protein awareness make Indians protein deprived

72 per cent people in Vijayawada are protein deficient

Leading research firm, IMRB, today released findings of a nationwide study on ‘Understanding Protein Myths and Gaps among Indians’ covering 1800 respondents across East, West, North, South regions, which has revealed significant gaps in both awareness levels on protein and its consumption.

Protein is one of the fundamental nutrients essential for the human body, which is duly acknowledged by the respondents. Respondents believe that protein is essential for children’s growth; enhances mental sharpness; essential for muscle building; is good for immunity and enhances beauty, is good for skin, and hair quality.

Among nutrients endorsed for their health benefits by the respondents, protein has the highest average endorsement i.e. 53 per cent, with calcium at 48 per cent, vitamins at 43 per cent, iron at 34 per cent and carbohydrates at 32 per cent

Alarmingly, what is the adverse impact of protein deficiency is not well understood among Indians in general, with only 1/3rd strongly endorsing that lack of protein can cause weakness and fatigue.

The study, involved analysing the diet patterns of respondents, to understand if the Indians are consuming the prescribed levels of protein in their daily diets, which is a function of their body weight. Alarmingly, it was found that Indians suffer from a significant protein inadequacy, with 73 per cent of Indians consuming diets being protein deficient.

The most protein deficiency was found among vegetarians with an alarming 84 per cent. Contrary to the popular belief, what is interesting that not all non-vegetarian diets provide adequate protein, as 65 per cent of Indian non-vegetarian diets were found to be deficient in prescribed levels of protein as well.

In a region wise analysis of protein deficiency, Lucknow is the most protein deficient city i.e.90 per cent protein deficiency, followed by Ahmedabad and Chennai at 84 per cent, Vijayawada at 72 per cent, Mumbai at 70 per cent. Only Kolkata has less than half of population suffering from protein deficiency in their diets at 43 per cent.

A closer look at the various consumer segments find that protein deficiency is highest among men with families at 75 per cent and mothers at 72 per cent.

The awareness challenge
The reason behind protein deficiency is explained by the fact that Indians also suffer from poor awareness levels on protein. 93 per cent of Indian’s interviewed are unaware of their ideal protein requirement, with pregnant ladies on the top at 97 per cent, followed by lactating mothers at 96 per cent and adolescents at 95 per cent.

What is even more alarming is that Indians suffer from many myths when it comes to their understanding of the sources of Indians, its role.