The Protein Week 2021: Nearly one in three adults in Mumbai have poor quality of life as per a study

New Delhi: Danone India, in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) launched the fifth edition of The Protein Week (TPW), which is celebrated annually between 24 – 30th July, to raise awareness about the importance of protein, a macronutrient which is integral to lead a healthy and active life.

The Quality of Life (QoL) survey based on a WHO QoL questionnaire and additional tools was conducted in May-June 2021 with a sample size of 2762 Indian adults in cities viz Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chennai, Indore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Patna, representing 4 geographical zones of India – North, South, East and West.

Based on the mean percent scores of the 4 domains of QoL viz. Physical health, Psychological health, Social relationships and Environment and the cutoff point arrived to categorize Indian adults into “good” or “poor” QoL, the following findings were reported.

• Nearly one out of two Indian adults had a poor quality of life (46.2%)

• In India, more women have poor QoL than men (50.4% vs 42%) and similarly physical health scores of women are less than for men

• Kolkata recorded the highest percentage of adults (65%) with poor Quality-of-Life score, followed by Chennai (49.8%), Delhi (48.5%), Patna (46.2%), Hyderabad (44.4%), Lucknow (40%) and Indore (39.2%). Mumbai had the highest percentage of adults (68%) recording a good quality of life

• Almost all (99%) respondents across India agreed that physical health and nutrition plays an important role in having a good QoL while nearly 98% of the study population was of opinion that a protein-rich diet is important for a good Quality of Life.

• Only 9% of the respondents in India fulfilled the daily requirement of protein (Recommended Dietary Allowance). A huge gap also existed for the intake of 10 micronutrients that are important for immune function and overall health.

Speaking on the findings of the survey, Mr. Himanshu Bakshi, Managing Director, Danone India, said, “The Protein Week is a platform to drive conversations and build awareness about protein, making it a part of mainstream public health dialogue. This year, we have conducted a survey to assess the quality of life of Indian adults with an aim to establish the impact of nutrition on physical health and quality of life. Physical health is one of the factors which one can influence with right nutrition choices and staying active.  Although more than 90% of the respondents were aware about the role of physical health and nutrition only 9% of respondents were getting adequate protein in their diet, which is alarming. Through our collaboration with CII and nutrition experts we endeavour to sensitize Indian adults about the role of nutrition and protein in improving quality of life.”

Sharing her views, Ms. Vinita Bali, Chairperson, CII National Committee on Nutrition, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Danone India for the 5th edition of The Protein Week. The findings of the recently conducted survey once again dimensionalise the gap in nutrition, even amongst the upper income groups in our cities. This can only be tackled by taking personal responsibility for the choices we make as consumers and, on the supply side, by making nutritious food more available, accessible and affordable. At CII, we continue to work closely with private and public sector companies, regulatory and development agencies, state governments and NGOs to address this challenge”.

Lifestyle and environmental changes over the years have adversely impacted our quality of life. Poor dietary habits, erratic sleep schedule and sedentary life have played a part in it but with the ongoing pandemic, focus on health & wellness has become centerstage.   It is imperative to maintain a healthy lifestyle through appropriate diet and adequate physical activity. It is critical that people are aware that a balanced and nutritious diet with emphasis on protein and other essential nutrients can contribute to a healthy immune system, while maintaining good strength and mobility.