India is threatened with a looming healthcare crisis, and 440 million Indians are predicted to be obese by the year 2050. This reality has left the Prime Minister Narendra Modi concerned over the increasing case of obesity within the nation.
The increasing obesity level in India can be explained on the basis of several factors like lifestyle changes, food habits, and physical inactivity. Since the nation is increasingly urbanizing and adopting a more sedentary lifestyle, the threat from obesity-related illness like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancer forms is rising too.
The Consequences of Obesity
Obesity is a chronic health condition with serious implications on the quality of life of a person. Among the possible risks to health brought about by obesity are:
Heightened risk for chronic diseases: Obesity is the leading risk factor for chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer.
Decreased life expectancy: Obesity decreases life expectancy by raising the risk of dying prematurely from chronic diseases.
Mental health issues: Obesity may also have serious mental health consequences, such as elevated risks of depression and anxiety and other mental issues.
Addressing the Obesity Epidemic
The government and health workers should cooperate to counter the emerging obesity epidemic in India through healthy living promotion and ensuring obesity prevention and care services are made available. The following are some of the potential interventions against obesity:
Encouraging healthy diets: Indians should be encouraged to follow healthy diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to minimize the risk of obesity.
Boosting physical activity: Encouraging physical activity through scheme such as cycle-to-work and public exercise programs can help to minimize the risk of obesity.
Offering Indians access to treatment services for obesity: Providing access to treatment services for obesity for Indians, which may involve counseling, medication, and surgery, can improve health outcomes for those with obesity.
Through collaboration and efforts to overcome the rising challenge of obesity among Indians, we can assist in minimizing the risks of chronic illnesses, enhance the health outcomes for Indians with obesity, and achieve healthy lifestyles among all Indians.