The National Institute of Nutrition has added five kgs to the ideal body weight of Indian men and women, extending it from 60 kg in 2010 to 65 kg for the former and 55 kg from 50 kg for the latter.

In addition to the weight, the height for a reference Indian man has also been increased from 5.6 feet (171 cm) to 5.8 feet (177 cm) and 5 feet (152 cm) to 5.3 feet (162 cm) for women.

According to a Times of India report, the reasons behind these modifications is a raised nutritional food intake and, and because of considering both rural and urban areas - as opposed to taking into account just urban areas ten years ago.

For instance, the expert committee in 1989 had only taken the body weight and height of well-to-do Indian children and adolescents, and the 2010 expert panel had considered nutrition profiles from only 10 states, reaching the conclusion of 60 kg and 50 kg for men and women respectively.

But the 2020 panel has taken data from across the country, from the National Family Health Survey 4, National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau, World Health Organisation and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics.

This is the first time that the nutrition research body of the ICMR has considered recommendations for fibre based on energy intake, marking 40 grams per 2,000 kilo calories of food intake safe. 3,510 mg potassium daily has also been recommended, with a limit of 5 gm on common salt intake per day.

The fat consumption of adult men with sedentary activity has been set at 25 grams daily, while for those with moderate and heavy activity, it is 30 to 40 grams per day respectively. In the case of adult women, these have been set at 20, 25 and 30 grams daily.

These numbers were the same for both men and women in 2010.

The recommended dietary allowance in terms of calcium requirement for Indian men and women has been set at 1,000 mg per day, adding 200 mg for lactating and post-menopausal women.

(With inputs from The Times of India)