New Delhi, September 26:With five percent of India’s population obese, there is a strong need to control intake of sweets and maintain an active lifestyle so as to stay fit.
“Indians by nature have a sweet tooth and sugar is a prime requirement in every household. The consumption of sugar is increasing by four percent annually in the country and so is obesity,” said Rekha Sharma, former chief dietician with the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences here.
Speaking at a seminar on “Understanding and Managing Sweetness” here Friday, Sharma said that problems arose because of decreased physical activity, sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation and excessive consumption of sugary and fatty food.
The seminar, organised by s US-based NGO, emphasised the need for a sweet management policy in India.
“We believe sweet management policy can play an important role in the worldwide dietary guidance. Credible information about sugar and artificial sweeteners can assist consumers in managing sweetness successfully,” said K.Dun Gifford, founder of the project.