India's over-weight and over-stressed rich
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Amy Yee
IN a bustling working-class neighbourhood in west Delhi, doctors and nurses recently set up a clinic to offer free check-ups.
About 450 residents took part in the "heart camp" to check their blood pressure and blood sugar and even get an echocardiogram and a "lifestyle management" consultation on the spot. This is just one of 6,500 roaming heart camps overseen by the cardiologist Ravi Kasliwal over the past 14 years. He spearheaded the camps in cities and villages to spread the word about heart disease and preventive healthcare -- a task he sees as urgent because of the growing incidence of "lifestyle diseases" among India's 1.0bn-strong population.
A recent government survey showed 13 per cent of Indian women are overweight or obese. This may seem incongruous in a country where the malnutrition rate for very young children is worse than sub-Saharan Africa, at 46 per cent. But rising incomes among India's burgeoning middle class have led to richer diets, sedentary lifestyles, more stressful workloads and greater consumption of alcohol and tobacco.
Without greater emphasis on prevention, experts fear a public health calamity. India already has the world's largest population of adult-onset diabetics, partly because of genetic predisposition.
The mortality rate from ischaemic heart disease, the most common cause of death in many western countries, is projected to increase in India from 1.2m in 1990 to 2.0m by 2010, according to Anbumani Ramadoss, health minister.
"The premature morbidity and mortality in the most productive phase of life is posing a serious challenge to Indian society and its economy," he said.
A recent report from the Indian Council of Research on International Economic Relations estimates the loss to India's national income as a result of heart disease, stroke and diabetes in 2005 was $9.0bn and projects that figure will exceed $200bn over the next 10 years.
With state spending on healthcare at just 0.9 per cent of gross domestic product, government hospitals and health programmes cannot cope with the crisis. "The only solution is to strike at the roots," says Dr Kasliwal.
Awareness of healthier lifestyles is slowly spreading through grassroots campaigns, word of mouth and media.
In a contrast to the ultra-sweet desserts and oily, spicy dishes that characterise many Indian meals, international and domestic food makers are beginning to carve out a niche with healthier alternatives.
While the ubiquitous Indian vegetarian diet can be healthy, many versions are not. "The Indian diet is the worst in the world. There's hardly any physical exercise. We're dependent on servants and drivers," says Guarav Sharma, founder of the Optima Wellness centre near Delhi. He says most of his clients are struggling to lose weight. They spend Rs12,000 ($300) -- a sizeable sum by Indian standards -- for two months of consultations with Optima's nutritionists, fitness trainers and clinical psychologists.
Persuading people to exercise more is a big challenge, doctors say. Searing heat does not encourage exercise and graduating from a bicycle to a motor scooter to a car is seen as rising up the ranks.
Some Indians are health-conscious. R. N. Yadav, a 58-year-old economics professor, takes a 24-hour train journey to Delhi every year for his check-up. He walks every morning and avoids sweets and fried foods. "My willpower is strong so I can take any step for my health," he declares while waiting for his check-up. "I want to keep myself hale and hearty."
.........................................
— FT Syndication Service
IN a bustling working-class neighbourhood in west Delhi, doctors and nurses recently set up a clinic to offer free check-ups.
About 450 residents took part in the "heart camp" to check their blood pressure and blood sugar and even get an echocardiogram and a "lifestyle management" consultation on the spot. This is just one of 6,500 roaming heart camps overseen by the cardiologist Ravi Kasliwal over the past 14 years. He spearheaded the camps in cities and villages to spread the word about heart disease and preventive healthcare -- a task he sees as urgent because of the growing incidence of "lifestyle diseases" among India's 1.0bn-strong population.
A recent government survey showed 13 per cent of Indian women are overweight or obese. This may seem incongruous in a country where the malnutrition rate for very young children is worse than sub-Saharan Africa, at 46 per cent. But rising incomes among India's burgeoning middle class have led to richer diets, sedentary lifestyles, more stressful workloads and greater consumption of alcohol and tobacco.
Without greater emphasis on prevention, experts fear a public health calamity. India already has the world's largest population of adult-onset diabetics, partly because of genetic predisposition.
The mortality rate from ischaemic heart disease, the most common cause of death in many western countries, is projected to increase in India from 1.2m in 1990 to 2.0m by 2010, according to Anbumani Ramadoss, health minister.
"The premature morbidity and mortality in the most productive phase of life is posing a serious challenge to Indian society and its economy," he said.
A recent report from the Indian Council of Research on International Economic Relations estimates the loss to India's national income as a result of heart disease, stroke and diabetes in 2005 was $9.0bn and projects that figure will exceed $200bn over the next 10 years.
With state spending on healthcare at just 0.9 per cent of gross domestic product, government hospitals and health programmes cannot cope with the crisis. "The only solution is to strike at the roots," says Dr Kasliwal.
Awareness of healthier lifestyles is slowly spreading through grassroots campaigns, word of mouth and media.
In a contrast to the ultra-sweet desserts and oily, spicy dishes that characterise many Indian meals, international and domestic food makers are beginning to carve out a niche with healthier alternatives.
While the ubiquitous Indian vegetarian diet can be healthy, many versions are not. "The Indian diet is the worst in the world. There's hardly any physical exercise. We're dependent on servants and drivers," says Guarav Sharma, founder of the Optima Wellness centre near Delhi. He says most of his clients are struggling to lose weight. They spend Rs12,000 ($300) -- a sizeable sum by Indian standards -- for two months of consultations with Optima's nutritionists, fitness trainers and clinical psychologists.
Persuading people to exercise more is a big challenge, doctors say. Searing heat does not encourage exercise and graduating from a bicycle to a motor scooter to a car is seen as rising up the ranks.
Some Indians are health-conscious. R. N. Yadav, a 58-year-old economics professor, takes a 24-hour train journey to Delhi every year for his check-up. He walks every morning and avoids sweets and fried foods. "My willpower is strong so I can take any step for my health," he declares while waiting for his check-up. "I want to keep myself hale and hearty."
.........................................
— FT Syndication Service