Dietary Intake and Energy Balance among Farm Women: A Comprehensive Review

Description

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18410595

Partibha Malik and Sangeeta C. Sindhu (Department of Foods and Nutrition, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana)

Farm women constitute the backbone of agricultural production systems in developing countries, contributing substantially to both farm and domestic labor. Despite their high physical workload and prolonged working hours, their dietary intake and nutritional status often remain inadequate, predisposing them to chronic energy deficits and adverse health outcomes. Therefore, understanding the relationship between dietary intake and energy expenditure is crucial for accurately evaluating overall energy balance and the nutritional well-being of farm women. The present review synthesizes existing evidence on dietary intake patterns, nutrient adequacy, physical activity levels, and energy expenditure among farm women, with particular emphasis on their combined influence on energy balance. Relevant literature published across national and international databases was examined to summarize findings related to food consumption practices, macro and micronutrient sufficiency, workload-related energy demands, and commonly used methods for assessing energy expenditure in field settings. The reviewed studies consistently indicate cereal-based, low-diversity diets with inadequate intake of protein and several micronutrients, alongside moderate to heavy occupational workloads that substantially elevate total energy expenditure. This imbalance frequently results in negative energy balance, fatigue, and increased vulnerability to undernutrition and related health risks. Methodological variations were noted in the assessment of physical activity and energy expenditure, although heart-rate monitoring and activity-based approaches have emerged as feasible and reliable tools for field evaluations. Overall, the evidence highlights a persistent mismatch between dietary intake and energy requirements among farm women. Integrated assessment strategies and targeted nutrition and workload-management interventions are needed to improve nutritional adequacy, restore energy balance, and promote long-term health in this vulnerable population.