The higher consumption of Omega 6 fatty acid — found in sunflower, safflower oil, soyabean and groundnut oils and even poultry and eggs - was the culprit, the study found.

Wrong food habits are leading to obesity in an increasing number of urban adolescents and youths. This is causing insulin resistance and can result in diabetes later.

According to the study, published in international journal, Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, urban youths in India are consuming higher than recommended polysaturated fatty acids, saturated fats and harmful fats like Omega 6 fatty acids. Worse, they are consuming much below the recommended amounts of healthy fats like Omega 3 fatty acids, which are important for prevention of heart disease and diabetes.

The data has been derived from schools and colleges of Delhi and the mean age of the sample population is between 14 and 23 years.

“The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between dietary nutrients and insulin resistance, which predisposes adolescents and young adults to diabetes and heart disease,” said the author of the study, Dr Anoop Misra, former HoD Medicine, AIIMS and Head of Metabolism and Diabetes at Fortis Hospitals, Delhi.

The measurements for height, weight and Body Mass Index were carried out and the nutrient information was collected using a 24-hour food recall questionnaire. It was found that carbohydrates, cholesterol and fiber intakes were comparable in the group that showed insulin resistance and other group, where the insulin action was normal. Insulin action determines the progression of the diabetes.

The total fat — saturated fats (bad fats) and MUFA (good fats) — was also comparable. “But the Omega 6 fatty acid intake was much higher in the group with insulin resistance. And they were low in Omega 3 fatty acids or good fats,” said Dr Misra.

According to him, diets high in Omega 3 fatty acids with a low Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio results in normal action of insulin. “In view of the increasing prevalence of obesity and heart disease in urban population in India, it is very important to restrict the intake of Omega 6 in children, adolescents and young people,” he said.