According to a recent study published in The Lancet Global Health journal, 57% of women in India were found to be insufficiently physically active compared to men (42%), which is in line with trends in the South Asian region, while nearly 50% of adults in India engage in insufficient levels of physical activity in 2022. Additionally, an international team of researchers, including the World Health Organization (WHO), has claimed that the South Asian region also ranks second in terms of adults being insufficiently physically active after the high-income Asia Pacific region.
If current trends continue, the study estimates that by 2030, 60% of adults may engage in insufficient physical activity, as in India, more than 22% of adults engaged in insufficient physical activity in the year 2000, while in 2010, about 34% of adults were insufficiently physically active. This is an urgent warning for India as a 2023 Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal estimates that 101 million people in India suffered from diabetes in 2021 and about 315 million people had hypertension in the same year.
India’s Fitness Challenge:
Given our worsening health graph, it is important to begin your fitness journey now and take actionable steps to get active and start exercising. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Manish Pendse, senior consultant physician and diabetologist at Medicover Hospitals in Navi Mumbai, shared, “Poor lifestyle and unhealthy food choices are some of the main reasons behind a large population being unhealthy. People opt for processed, packaged or junk food instead of eating healthy food. This affects their health to a great extent resulting in several health issues like obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, digestive problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke and skin problems.”
What can you do now:
Dr Manish Pendse said, “It is important to engage in physical activities or exercises to keep your body fit and away from many diseases. Your fitness regime can include low-impact exercises like walking, jogging, meditation and yoga and intense physical activities like running, cardio, weight lifting and going to the gym. Being physically active for at least 30 to 40 minutes daily boosts metabolism which helps in controlling weight.”
The health expert suggested, “Eat a well-balanced diet that contains essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and omega-3 fatty acids in equal amounts. Choose healthy foods that are low in calories, cholesterol and saturated fat and low in sugar and salt. Track your body weight daily to see if you are gaining or losing weight. This can help you create a customized plan to maintain your physical and mental health.”
“Avoid unhealthy habits like drinking alcohol, chewing tobacco, smoking, sitting in one place for long hours without taking adequate breaks and eating at unusual times. Consult your doctor for expert guidance and tips to maintain fitness in this fast-paced life. Stress also leads to weight gain and gastric problems, so it is important to relieve stress by doing calming activities,” he cautions.
