New Delhi: A common question often comes up at dining tables in Indian households—is rice responsible for weight gain, or is it roti? From Bengal to Punjab, people have their own beliefs about the issue. Some consider rice a food that has been eaten for generations and therefore regard it as appropriate, while others consider wheat roti a better option because it is part of their traditional diet.

However, the fact that a particular food has been consumed for generations does not guarantee that it will have the same effect on every person's body. Two people living in the same family may have almost similar eating habits, but the effects on their weight, blood sugar and metabolism may be different.

In reality, weight gain is not related only to whether a person is eating rice or roti. Total calorie intake, portion size, physical activity, sleep, age, body composition and metabolic health all play a role.

Both rice and roti are sources of carbohydrates. However, the way they are consumed can be important. For example, if a person eats a large quantity of rice while consuming fewer vegetables, pulses, protein and fibre and also has low physical activity, total energy intake may increase. The same applies to roti. Eating more rotis than required can also increase calorie intake.

Therefore, considering rice or roti alone as the sole reason for weight gain does not provide the complete picture. A better approach is to look at the overall diet, portion size and daily lifestyle together.

In other words, the question is not whether rice is bad or roti is good, but how much you eat, what you eat it with and how much energy you spend throughout the day.