 | Our earlier obesity cover | There is an old adage repeated in many Indian homes, specially by the older generation: health is wealth. Well, the Indian middle class has got the wealth but is fast losing its health. The middle class in India has never had it so good. Affluence and globalisation has made a different lifestyle for them. Global food franchising has given them a wider range of cuisine, not necessarily the healthiest. Yet, as is often said, there is no such thing as a free lunch, or it could be a case of too many lunches.
Paradoxically, a nation with 20 per cent of the poor of the world is facing an obesity crisis. The middle class is increasingly sporting a middle spread that poses a serious health risk for millions. Obesity, till recently, was seen as a disease of developed countries. Yet, 35 per cent or approximately 120 million urban Indians are seriously obese, as are one in 10 urban Indian children. Delhi is India's obesity capital with an alarming 45 per cent males and 55 per cent women suffering from high levels of obesity. Obesity is more than a cosmetic concern. Being seriously overweight puts you at greater risk of developing high blood pressure, cardiac disease, diabetes, some cancers and other health risks. Ultimately, obesity can be life-threatening. In the US, more than three lakh deaths are linked to obesity annually. According to the World Health Organisation, the obesity epidemic is increasing faster in developing countries than in the developed world. The prime cause revolves around changes in lifestyles as a result of affluence and a sedentary lifestyle. Basically, we are eating too much high calorie food and not burning enough of it with exercise. It always amazes me to see how a country, used to eating fresh home cooked meals, has taken to pizza parlours and McDonald's type fast food eateries which have grown by 40 per cent each year. These have aggravated the obesity problem. Longer work hours means longer hours behind a desk. At home, it's sitting at a computer or the TV. As lives become busier, there is less time to cook healthy meals, instead, more people are opting for high calorie, pre-cooked meals popped into the microwave. In Indian health care circles, the battle against the bulge has begun. Last month, the first Asia Pacific Obesity Conclave took place in Delhi and health experts are gearing up to tackle obesity on a war footing. The antidote is simple: eat healthier, exercise more and change lifestyle patterns. As Deputy Editor Damayanti Datta, who put together this week's cover story, says: "The challenge lies in creating awareness. We all know that fat is ugly, but many people are unaware that it is dangerous as well." Affluence may have given middle class India many gifts but they are in danger of losing the greatest gift of all: good health. Index
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