Indian youth and lack of fitness culture! India is a nation that has historically been more passionate about food than fitness. How you live your thirties determines
how healthy you’ll be at 60. The problem is that in India exercise is seen as an unusual activity, a fad or an indulgence of the elite. There is no culture of physical fitness, and because of this Indians don’t have an active old age.
Is India fit? Survey reveals most Indians are unfit
Obviously not! Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Fit India Movement on National Sports day. Only a fit person, fit family and a fit society will pave way for a great and new India- was his message! From 76% people opting for running as a fitness activity in 2017, the number dipped to 63% in 2019,53% of Women in India are Physically Inactive.
Walking, jogging and running surpass yoga and gym training as the top choices of most fitness enthusiasts in India, according to a new survey on Sunday. Disease burden will cost India $6.2 trillion by 2030. Every fifth person in India suffers from a chronic disease and more than 6 out of 10 people die from non-communicable diseases India should increase the percentage expenditure of GDP on healthcare from the current 1.1 per cent to at least 2.5-3 percent by 2025, with an increased focus on preventing and treating NCDs. Most young people are healthy.
However, more that 1.8 million young people aged 15 to 24 die each year. A much greater number of young people suffer from illnesses which hinder their ability to grow and develop to their full potential.
A still great number of young people engage in behaviors that jeopardize not only their current state of health, but often their health for years to come. They are hooked to smoking, alcohol, unprotected sex and lack of physical exercise and obesity! Nearly 1 million Indians die due to diabetes every year. India is projected to be home to 109 million individuals with diabetes by 2035.
One in five young adults in India has high blood pressure.That equates to around 80 million people, whichis more than the entire UK population.
Four risk factors responsible are tobacco, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol. Major metabolic risk factors are obesity, and raised blood pressure, blood glucose and blood cholesterol levels.
‘Plus size’ is just a euphemism for being fat. Life is much easier when you’re thinner. Big is not beautiful. The Whole World Is Getting Fatter. It is disease in the making till you are crippled.India is the third most obese country in the world.270 millions are below the povertyline.obesity appears to be distant.But india is under seize. junk food, alcohol, sedantry life style have led to self destruction.one in five is obese or overweight.Obesity today is officially an epidemic in India.
Let’s admit it! In India, we don’t take fitness seriously.
When it comes to awareness about the benefits of particular food groups, nearly half of the respondents say checking fiber content is not important: 70.3% do not check for gluten, 64.2% don’t bother about the food’s high on unsaturated fats. About 60.9% say it makes no difference to them whether their food is organic or not, and 63% don’t take probiotic preparations.
Way forward for a fit and fine India. Ayushman Bharat’ announced in the Union Budget 2018 is perhaps the best example that can be cited in recent times.
Some of the key areas of intervention that can help in bringing a paradigm shift in Primary Health Care would include: Bringing ‘healthy living’ into the primary education system and Focus on ‘health checks & early diagnostics’
Eat with heart in mind
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and say no Processed food. Have A Protein-Rich Breakfast. Walk 10,000 steps every day-live 7yrs longer. And while you walk- SMILE. It is the ultimate anti-depressant. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Make time to practice Pranayama, meditation and praye.
Relax and Sleep for 6-8 hrs. every night. Work on your weaknesses to improve your posture, gait and stability by strengthening muscle groups. Six-packs and bulging biceps are not the Beall of your appearance.
I get up early morning at 5.00 am for my meditation and for a brisk walk! what about you?
Dr N. Prabhudev is a Former Director, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology
