While the world observed Obesity Day on Sunday, the abnormal health condition has turned into another major killer for Indians. According to a study published in the journal The Lancet, titled ‘Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980-2013’, India ranks number three among countries battling the problem. The country is only behind the US and China.
‘Obesity is becoming another epidemic and it is mainly because of the urban lifestyle and unhealthy dietary habits. Obesity further increases the risk of heart disease by two-three fold. Obese people have high blood pressure, high risk for diabetes and also, low level of good cholesterol,’ said JPS Sawhney, chairperson, department of cardiology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
The study also revealed that between 1980 and 2008, the number of those affected by obesity in the developing world, including India, China, Egypt, Peru and Thailand, had tripled from 250 million to 904 million. Sedentary lifestyle and higher dependence on outside food are the leading cause of obesity among young population.
‘Obesity is becoming another epidemic and it is mainly because of the urban lifestyle and unhealthy dietary habits. Obesity further increases the risk of heart disease by two-three fold. Obese people have high blood pressure, high risk for diabetes and also, low level of good cholesterol,’ said JPS Sawhney, chairperson, department of cardiology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.
The study also revealed that between 1980 and 2008, the number of those affected by obesity in the developing world, including India, China, Egypt, Peru and Thailand, had tripled from 250 million to 904 million. Sedentary lifestyle and higher dependence on outside food are the leading cause of obesity among young population.