Share of fat intake in urban adults in central India FY 2016, by food group

In financial year 2016, about 63 percent of daily fat intake from food consumed by urban adults living in central India consisted of fats and edible oils. Milk and milk products were the second highest source of fat for the urban Indians.

Dietary fats

In order to prevent lifestyle and behavioral health issues which are linked with chronic diseases, global standards on recommended dietary allowances for fat intakes have been established. Despite that, the fat composition in a diet is contingent upon several factors such as region, ethnicity, and income. While Indian diets are predominantly vegetarian and low in fat, an undeniable increase in the demography has been observed over the past two decades. This could be attributed to the change in lifestyle that is largely sedentary and a diet that has moved away from traditional cooking to the use of more processed foods for convenience.

Saturated fatty acids

Over consumption of dietary fat had been linked to an increased risk in overweight, obesity, coronary heart disease and specific forms of cancers. In particular, saturated fatty acids have been associated with cardiovascular disease. According to guidelines set by the WHO, in order to effectively manage the prevention of non-communicable diseases, the consumption of saturated fatty acids should not exceed ten percent of a person’s total energy consumption.