Factors affecting the nutritional status of urban communities.

183 adapt themselves to available diet, low in calories and low in protein but with protein value about adequate for health, and who eventually cstablish some sort of equilibrium between body-weight, development and physical activity on the one hand and low intake of food on the other, the need is for more food of the type they are eating today. That diets based on cereals and pulses commonly taken in India have a protein value adequate to cover protein needs of man at all ages has been shown by a number of workers (Payne, 1969; Aykroyd & Doughty, 1964). The exceptions are pregnant and lactating women who require a slightly higher concentration of utilizable protein than is present in the diet based on rice and pulses, though even here small supplements of milk can more than adequately cover needs. Infants are also exceptions since they cannot be given solid diet if they are weaned during the 1st year. Protein-rich foods of high biological value, such as milk and eggs, which along with better-quality protein also bring minerals and vitamins, have clearly a vital part to play. Further discussion is beyond the scope of this paper.