Urbanization in India has facilitated access to services but adversely affected health and lifestyles. Urban dwellers often lead sedentary lives, consume unhealthy diets, work long hours, experience chronic stress, and suffer from poor sleep quality, all contributing to a rise in health issues particularly prevalent in cities. A significant concern is the increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, exacerbated by poor eating habits characterized by high sugar and processed foods, alongside a lack of exercise, leading to this condition even in younger populations.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with overweight, which can instigate several long-term health problems, pointing to the importance of awareness and intervention in managing both conditions. Additionally, high blood pressure and heart disease are major health threats in India. Factors such as excessive salt consumption, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and insufficient physical activity elevate blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Significantly, many individuals remain unaware of their high blood pressure or heart disease until they face serious health crises. Moreover, dyslipidemia, characterized by unhealthy cholesterol levels, is on the rise, often due to poor diet and lack of exercise, leading to elevated LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while decreasing protective HDL cholesterol, thereby heightening cardiovascular risk. Urban living also contributes to mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. The competitive and demanding nature of city life, along with excessive screen time, exacerbates these issues, complicating the work-life balance.
Conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and chronic respiratory illnesses are becoming more common due to metabolic imbalance, hormonal changes, obesity, and pollution. These diseases develop gradually and require long-term management. Early detection, regular health check-ups, a healthy diet, physical activity, stress control, adequate sleep, and patient education are key to prevention and effective care.
Lifestyle diseases are a major and growing health burden in urban India. Most are preventable and manageable through early awareness, healthier habits, and timely medical intervention.
Could small daily changes in diet, activity, and sleep prevent major health problems later in life?