Lifestyle diseases wreaking havoc
Updated: Apr 10th, 2024
In a revelation from GOQii's India Fit Report 2024 titled “Thriving at Any Age: The Blueprint for Healthy Longevity,” a shocking 45% of India’s population hovers dangerously close to being classified as Unhealthy.
This alarming statistic underscores a nation on the cusp of a health emergency, juxtaposed with a glimmer of hope for a monumental shift towards collective wellness. The data, derived from over six million users, serves as a dramatic wake-up call, signalling an urgent need for transformative action in India’s health and wellness trajectory.
The data indicates a stark health divide. In 2023, a staggering 59% of women were categorised as unhealthy, contrasting with the 40% of men, unveiling a significant health outcome disparity with a particularly distressing spotlight on the wide health gap between genders. The report also showed that 16% of women fell into the obese category.
The health gender gap transcends mere numbers; it urgently highlights the necessity for targeted health interventions tailored for women. This underscores a compelling need to actively work towards closing this unjust gap.
Indians continued to be plagued by stress
Adding to the grave health situation is the fact that Indians continued to be plagued by stress, affecting the physical and mental well-being of individuals across all walks of life. The study exposes a grim reality where 26% of Indians report being trapped in the throes of work-related stress, while financial instability plagues 17% of the population. An even more concerning trend is the sharp rise in stress levels among women, skyrocketing from 25% in 2021 to an alarming 35% in 2023.
The alarming rise in mental health concerns is closely connected to intense performance demands and high expectations common in numerous professional sectors. The ramifications of enduring such high stress are profound, adversely affecting not only individual mental and physical well-being but also diminishing workplace productivity and impairing personal relationships.
Lifestyle diseases wreaking havoc: 23% of Indians suffer from high blood pressure
In addition to stress, lifestyle diseases significantly impact Indians. According to the report, such conditions remain a critical health concern, with high blood pressure affecting 23% of the population. The report indicates that there has been no respite from lifestyle illnesses. Over the last three years, they have been consistently there with diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and thyroid being the four most common lifestyle problems among people in India.
The World Health Organisation estimates that these lifestyle diseases are responsible for 80% of all deaths worldwide. They are the leading cause of death in the developed world, and the numbers are increasing. Poor lifestyle choices are the main reason for these lifestyle illnesses, which in turn result in the majority of these deaths.
Lifestyle diseases impact people of all ages and from all walks of life. These conditions affect children, adults, and the elderly, however, they are most commonly linked with those in their later years. The senior age group suffers the most from lifestyle-related ailments.
Blood pressure is the most common condition in this age group with almost 48% of the population having high blood pressure, followed by diabetes at 38% and cholesterol at 30%.
This report is a clarion call for a sweeping transformation in India’s approach to health and longevity.
It’s not just an analysis; it’s a battle plan aimed at guiding the nation towards an era where optimum health and wellness are accessible to all citizens, transforming lofty ideals into tangible realities.
Kicking off with the first chapter can only be described as a wake-up call, The “Secret to Longevity”, the report shatters the illusion of complacency by confronting us with a stark reality: the secret to extending our lifespan and enhancing our quality of life lies in the seemingly mundane choices we make every day.
This simple yet powerful truth has the potential to radically increase life expectancy across India. However, it brings to light the urgent challenges posed by our rapidly ageing society and the consequent strain on socioeconomic structures.
(Source: IANS)
- Edited for style
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