Dietary Related Risks Associated with Non-Communicable Diseases in Bangladesh (RDRNCD).

Implemented by CNRS in collaboration with Manitoba University, Canada, Supported by IDRC

Other Research Collaborating Institutes - University of Dhaka (DU), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), North South University (NSU), and Channel i/pojf (Television Channel).

The research project, entitled “Reducing Dietary Related Risks associated with Non-Communicable Diseases in Bangladesh,” began its journey from August 2016 with the financial support from IDRC, and was completed in January 31st, 2020. The Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS - Bangladesh) in association with the University of Manitoba (UM – Canada), University of Dhaka (DU - Bangladesh), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI - Bangladesh), North South University (NSU - Bangladesh), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh, Works for Better Bangladesh (WBB - Bangladesh), Harmony and Channel i/pojf (a nation-wide television channel in Bangladesh), jointly implemented the project with the overall objective to provide evidence on policies and practices across different sectors that aspire to reduce dietary-related risks associated with Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh.

The project conducted exploratory research on the patterns of dietary habit, lifestyle and NCDs, namely diabetes, hypertension, and associated risk factors: overweight and obesity, among various segments of the population including the urban and rural men and women, school children, indigenous populations, and diabetes and hypertension patients in clinics and hospitals.

Some of the major findings of the research are:

• Meat, fast food, and oily food consumption is considerably higher in urban areas than in rural areas
• Fruit intake is considerably lower among the population of Bangladesh
• A majority (53.2%) of the rural population had a low dietary score
• Urban population in the country is significantly less physically active than the rural inhabitants
• NCD prevalence among urban population in Bangladesh is considerably higher than it is among the rural population
• The indigenous population were found to be more physically active and had a considerably lower diabetic prevalence than the Bengali-speaking mainstream population
• NCD prevalence is higher among women than that of men.
• In collaboration with DGHS and Health Education Bureau of the Government of Bangladesh, the project introduced the innovative “NCD leaf” in government’s Little Doctor Program for school students