Publication:

Dietary transition and its association with metabolic health trends among Khasi tribes in Shillong, Meghalaya: a cross-sectional study

Background Urbanisation and globalisation have rapidly altered the traditional dietary landscape of the indigenous Khasi tribe in Meghalaya, shifting preferences toward a Westernised diet. This dietary transition is increasingly linked to a rising incidence of metabolic disorders. This study assessed the transition in eating habits among Khasi adolescents, evaluating their perceptions of fast food and the broader regional burden of metabolic health issues.

Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 Khasi adolescents (150 boys, 150 girls) in the East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya. A structured questionnaire gathered data on perceptions, preferences, and consumption frequencies regarding traditional versus non-traditional fast foods. Concurrently, retrospective clinical data from 2019 to 2022 were collected from regional hospitals, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) clinics to analyse the regional incidence of diabetes and hypertension.

Results Dietary perceptions shifted significantly, with both genders agreeing that fast food tastes better than traditional cuisine. Males demonstrated a significantly higher preference for fast food over traditional meals compared to females (p< 0.05). Alarmingly, 40% of males and 49.33% of females perceived fast food as generally healthy, while 50.67% of adolescent girls believed there was no scientific evidence of its detrimental health effects. Clinical data over the 3 years (N = 75,673) revealed a substantial metabolic disease burden, with 4.04% of patients diagnosed with diabetes and 8.23% with hypertension.

Conclusions Khasi adolescents exhibit a pronounced dietary shift from traditional whole foods toward commercial fast foods, driven by taste preferences and widespread health misconceptions. This dietary transition correlates with a high and rising regional incidence of diabetes and hypertension in the East Khasi Hills district, highlighting an urgent need for targeted school and community-based nutritional interventions.