1. Dr K N Prasad Community Medicine
Balanced diet
Dr K N Prasad
Community Medicine

2. Definition
Balanced diet is the one which contains a variety of foods in such quantities and proportions that the need for energy, proteins, vitamins, minerals and fats is adequately met for maintaining health, vitality and general well being and also makes a small provision for extra nutrients to withstand short duration of leanness.
Objective is to safeguard the population from nutritional deficiencies.

3. Principles of balanced diet/ Dietary goals
it should meet the energy intake from
Protein – 10-15% of energy intake
Fats % of energy intake
Carbohydrate – remaining
Pattern of balanced diet vary in different parts of the world
Each country have their own standards

4. Determining factors Region Economic status Religion Customs Culture
Taboos
Taste
Habits of the people

5. Energy
energy requirement is defined as that level of energy intake in relation to expenditure which is least likely to result in obesity, heart disease or prolong active life.
It is Individualised because
Basal metabolism- 1cal per kg body weight per hour
Daily activities – walking, dressing, sitting, etc.
Occupational work- Light, moderate or heavy

6. Reference standards
Reference man: Aged years weighs 60kg, free from diseases and physically fit for active work, 8 hours work, 8 hours sleep, 4-6 hours sitting or other routine works and 2 hours in walking , recreation or in household activities.
Reference woman: Aged years weighs 50kg, free from diseases and physically fit for active work, 8 hours work, 8 hours sleep, 4-6 hours sitting or other routine works and 2 hours in walking , recreation or in household activities.

7. Factors affecting energy requirement
Age
Sex
Body composition
Physical activity
Working conditions
Physiological state

8. Energy requirement- adults
Reference Man: 45 cal / kg weight/per day
Reference Woman: 40 cal / kg weight/per day
Reference Man- per day
Light work – cal
Moderate work – 2875 cal
Heavy work – 3800 cal
Reference Woman- per day
Light work – cal
Moderate work – 2225 cal
Heavy work – 2925 cal

9. Energy- vulnerable group
Pregnant woman - daily reqt cal per day
Lactating mother(0-6 months) - daily reqt cal per day
Lactating mother(7-12months) - daily reqt cal per day
Children – rapid growth period needs cal per day and later on cal per day
Puberty – requriement is same as adults
Adults – generally 2% decline of resting metabolism for each decade for adults
After 40 years – reduce by 5% each decade till 60 years
After 60 years – reduce 10% each decade

10. Proteins
Infections , worm infestations, emotional disturbances, stress situations
Protein quality ( Protein energy ratio)
=Energy from protein X 100
Total energy intake
Ratio of protein calorie to the total energy calories
Reference Man- 8.3 %
Reference Woman- 9.1%
Pregnant woman- 10%
Lactating mother-11%
If PE is less than 4 % unable to satisfy the protein requirement
Recommended % of total calorie intake

11. Protein intake
Intake is expressed in terms of Grams per Kg body weight
ICMR recommends 1 gram per Kg body weight for adults
Infants – 2 Gms per kg body weight ( first 6months)
Gms per kg body weight till 10 years
Adolescents- 1.2 to 1.4 gms per kg body weight
During pregnancy- additional 14 gms per day
During lactation – 25 gms per day ( 0-6 months )

12. Protein no extra recommendations for elderly
higher intake of protein does not confers great benefit
Surplus quantity intake in more harmful than beneficial

13. Amino acids
Requirement of amino acids decreases sharply and age advances
EAA requirement expressed in Mgms per kg body weight
Infants – 742 mg
Pre children- 352 mg
School children – 260 mg
Adults – 84 mg

14. Fats During infancy – fats constitutes 50% of total energy intake
Adults – fat constitutes 20% of total energy intake
50% should be EFA from Vegetable oils
Requirement of EFA ranges from 3-6% of energy intake in young children
Recommended as equal proportion of Visible and invisible fats in the diet for all age groups.

15. Percentage of total energy Percentage of EFA per day
Fat intake
Group
Intake per day in Grams
Percentage of total energy
Percentage of EFA per day
Reference man & woman 20 9 3
Pregnant woman 30
12.5
4.5
Lactating mother 45
17.5
5.7
Children
22- 25 15

16. Carbohydrate Intake should be 50-70% of total energy intake
In India, 90% of energy intake is mainly from Carbohydrates.

17. what you do not want others to do to you, do not do to others.
Thought for the day
what you do not want others to do to you, do not do to others.
- Confucius

18. Thank you