📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Unknown artist. Digitized by Davinder Singh Toor.
Health
Punjab shows larger gender gap in protein‑rich food diversity than Haryana and Himachal
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 06 Nov 2026, 05:45 AM
👁 18
A recent report finds that the disparity between men and women in consuming a variety of protein‑rich foods is wider in Punjab than in neighbouring Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
A new study comparing dietary patterns across three north Indian states has highlighted a pronounced gender gap in Punjab's consumption of protein‑rich foods. The analysis shows that women in Punjab have access to, or consume, a narrower range of protein sources compared to men, and that this disparity exceeds the gaps observed in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
The report, which examined food‑frequency data collected from households, points to cultural and socioeconomic factors that may limit women's dietary choices in the state. While the study does not provide exact figures, it underscores the need for targeted nutrition interventions to bridge the gap.
Experts say that improving protein diversity among women is crucial for health outcomes, especially in a region where agriculture dominates livelihoods. Policymakers are urged to consider gender‑sensitive nutrition programs to ensure equitable access to nutrient‑rich foods.
The findings add to growing concerns about gender‑based nutritional inequities in India and call for coordinated efforts across health, agriculture and social welfare sectors.
The report, which examined food‑frequency data collected from households, points to cultural and socioeconomic factors that may limit women's dietary choices in the state. While the study does not provide exact figures, it underscores the need for targeted nutrition interventions to bridge the gap.
Experts say that improving protein diversity among women is crucial for health outcomes, especially in a region where agriculture dominates livelihoods. Policymakers are urged to consider gender‑sensitive nutrition programs to ensure equitable access to nutrient‑rich foods.
The findings add to growing concerns about gender‑based nutritional inequities in India and call for coordinated efforts across health, agriculture and social welfare sectors.