Evaluating the Impact of Millet (Shree Anna) Consumption on Obesity and Weight Management among Women: An Experimental Study

Abstract

A body mass index (BMI) exceeding 25 is deemed overweight, while a BMI surpassing 30 classifies is classified as obese. Incorporating millets into diets has shown a 7% reduction in BMI among those overweight or obese, demonstrating the potential to revert to a normal BMI. The prevalence of obesity is profoundly occurring among women due to genetic issues, ageing, wrong food habits, stress, lack of physical activity, post-partum weight gain, etc. Millets are considered good for health as it has a low glycemic index, are a rich source of antioxidants, high in minerals and proteins, a good source of dietary fibres, beneficial to combat daily lifestyle diseases and cost-effective. This study was conducted in the month of December 2023 to February 2024 (90 days). This study was carried out to find out the effect of the consumption of millets on weight management among women. The recent study was undertaken purposive random sampling in the model villages of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Banda, i.e. Chahitara (Control Group) and Kanwara (Experimental Group). A total of sixty women were randomly selected and divided into experimental (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). Selected respondents were suffering from obesity and their ages varied from 25-50 years. Data were collected through a personal interview, which consisted of a questionnaire about the frequency of millet consumption and Indigenous Technical Knowledge and practices for weight management. Before and after intervention, the physiological parameters, Blood Glucose level and BMI of women were assessed. A statistically significant decrease in weight and BMI was observed in the experimental group after 90 days. In the experimental group mean value was higher in the pre-test, i.e. 77.33±4.4; Moreover, highly significant difference (t value: 14.06) was found at 5% level of probability among them. A study found that consuming millets over four weeks resulted in an average weekly weight loss of 1.2 kg, with a reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) from 28.8 to 26.6. Therefore, it can be concluded that the addition of millet to the daily diet and physical exercises has a positive impact on decreasing the BMI level of Women.   In conclusion, the global rates of overweight and obesity are rising at an alarming pace. Therefore, replacing refined, calorie-heavy foods with nutritious whole grains, such as millets, can help with weight reduction.