Rediscovering millets for obesity prevention: A functional grain-based approach

Obesity is a consequential issue that eventuates due to excess fat accumulation in the adipose tissue. As per the WHO statistics, more than 1.9 billion adults are ascertained to be overweight, out of which 650 million adults are obese. Pancreatic lipase is the major enzyme accountable for the accumulation of fat because it digests the triacylglycerols in the body. Fat is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids and monoacylglycerol, which are responsible for forming cholesterol and lipoprotein in the body. Millets are small grains cereals that are good source of nutrients. They play a vital role in controlling obesity by reducing the weight and also help in improving the nutritional content of food. They help in lowering the glycemic index, prevent the formation of high cholesterol, and exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. In this review, we have summarized the influence of millets, including their mechanism, and their role in preventing obesity.