India's health story: Fit or farce

Here are some statistics to ponder over:

1. Four out of 10 Indian adult don’t engage in WHO-recommended level of physical activity, which amount to 150 minutes a week. 
2. Women are more inactive than men. 
3. Of the urban population, 51.7% engaged in insufficient physical activity, versus 36.1% of those living in rural areas. 
4. One of the largest epidemiological studies conducted on diabetes and non-communicable diseases (NCD) said that in 2021, there were 101 million diabetics in India, 136 million prediabetics, and 315 million had high blood pressure.
5. According to data shared by Apollo Hospitals, the rate of incidence of non-communicable diseases has more than double among children between the age of five and 17 in the past decade.  

These above pointers ask a question of us: Do we really pay attention to our health? Yes, there is an overexposure to wellness and fitness – enough to make it artform, even – but do we really prioritize our health?

Things were different for those living in the hills and hill states – health came naturally to us. Walking on uneven terrain, uphill and downhill, as a daily routine, no pollution, clean water, less stress, organic food and a diet full of millets and unprocessed grains meant both happiness and health. Compare that to gyms, swimming clubs, badminton courts, manicured parks and lawns, yoga classes in the urban world, well, you get the picture. 

Nature’s real gift to us is good health, and we should ensure we treat our body and mind with the respect they deserve. The age of digitalization may have made our lives easier, but they have also made us lazier. Everything is available on our fingertips, quite literally. Food delivery apps, online shopping, social media has come to mean not only minimal social contact but also an alarming decrease in level of physical activity.

Sadly, the lure of bright lights and fast life of big cities has meant the youth of our hill state moving away from their homes for “better” employment opportunities. If only there was an option to stick to their own culture and tradition, learn ways to market their healthy foods and snacks, thus earning money and also sharing their secret of health with others.

What is also needed is promotion of groups and communities such as the Haldwani Triclub and Uttarakhand adventure tourism, which will catch the attention of the youth, who are always looking for adventures.  

Having said that, techniques such as HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and calisthenics should be popularised by stakeholders in the health sector. Yoga retreats, including therapy sessions, are the answer to relieve stress and anxiety in today’s fast paced world.

And even though health gadgets such as smart watches that track our sleep cycles, blood pressure, daily steps, calories burnt, and water intake are getting sold like never before, we need to stay on course, or as they say in workout parlance, on track. 

Banner Image : iStock Images

Author is a Passionate trekker and a road trip enthusiast.