LIFESTYLE DISEASES AND QUALITY OF LIFE

In India, in 2017 nearly 60 per cent of all fatalities were directly related to NCDs. Risk factors like tobacco consumption, alcohol, unhealthy dietary habits, obesity, physical i nactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, heightened glucose level, and high salt intake of an average of 11mg/ day against the WHO recommended 5mg/day. Obesity is a growing health crisis in India. Both obesity and undernutrition are forms of malnutrition and are found in contrasting socioeconomic groups. Globally the number of obese has crossed 100 crores. In India, statistics show number of overweight children aged between 5 to 19 years exceeds 1.25 crore in 2022 compared to 40 lakhs in 1990, which is a four times increase in obesity. One person once diagnosed with one type of NCD opens doors for other NCDs too. Life is running at a fast pace and to fill stomachs fast options calming the taste buds is also growing in demand. The fast-food market has grown to 731 billion dollars in 2022. The United States leads the consumption ladder with annual spending of 160 billion dollars, followed by China with 97 per cent of the population consuming fast food. India ranks 13th on this ladder with an annual fast-food revenue of 814.29 million USD in 2023. According to The Global Food Policy Report 2024: Food Systems for Healthy Diets and Nutrition, published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on May 29 a healthy diet consists of incorporating 5 food groups in the diet that is, staple food, vegetable, fruit, pulses, nut or seed, animal source food). Only 28 per cent of Indians are following this defined healthy diet. Modern lifestyle has incorporated sedentary ways of doing daily activities, even the recreational activities are limited to reduced physical activity. Behaviours include a prolonged session of watching television, mobile screens, laptops, using electronic devices, and video gaming. The work culture associated with service sectors requires elongated hours of sitting at one go of an average of 10-11 hours per day. School curriculum and increasing competitions and cutthroat race to secure a seat and position also demand long hours of sitting. Modular kitchens with all appliances and raised cooking platforms as opposed to traditional kitchens with sitting and cooking arrangements make people stand in one place during entire cooking and associated works with little mobility. Global study reveals high levels of physical inactivity among women as compared to men. This is associated with small families, small residences with modern means of machinery and luxuries within the home, availability of maids and more eating done either outside the home or via online food delivery companies. The online food delivery market in India in 2023 was 36.3 billion dollars with a growth rate of 24.32 per cent. Above these increasing subscriptions to digital platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and similar others have grown to 73 billion Indian rupees, showing time consumed in screen based activities. Next on the list is the increasing trend towards online shopping and associated screen time scrolling up and down for not only essentials or needed items at that particular time, but also looking for the best deals, discounts and offers which in turn consumes a lot of time and contributes towards more sitting hours, as individuals are spending and an average of 2 hours and 25 minutes per week and spending 16 per cent of their income to this activity (consumer study by CyberMedia Research, CMR). This trend is not just limited to metropolitan cities but has percolated to tier 2 and tier 3 cities and rural areas as well. This situation is exacerbated by the post-pandemic circumstances characterized by prolonged sitting and remote operated work arrangements. The use of alcohol and tobacco is an emerging leading risk factor for mortality in India. Tobacco only resulted in 1 million deaths (17.8 per cent of total deaths). Smoking accounted for 79.8 per cent of these fatalities, with secondhand smoke contributing 21.0 per cent. Major causes of mortality linked to tobacco include Ischemic Heart Disease (18.0 per cent), Stroke (14.2 per cent), Lung Cancer (60.4 per cent), and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (40.7 per cent). The increased prevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption among adolescents is influenced by parental habits, peer pressure, experimentation, imitating the cool images of actors on big screens, lack of family cohesion, inadequate parental supervision, and no quality family time due to busy lifestyles. Collectively these conditions foster a sense of loneliness, and fear of failure which further compound the issue. Food and beverage companies invest significantly huge amounts in advertisements and popularizing brands and very little attention is given to nutritional content and healthy choices for the public at large. Social influencers also contribute t owards building public opinions and i ncreasing party habits, celebrating in restaurants and food outlets and changing the way people live their lives. FMCG (Fast-moving consumer goods) sector topped the list of advertisement spending with 300 billion Indian rupees in 2023 (Statista.com). The last section is about the factors which are beyond individual control. Top in the list is the issue of poor air quality index (AQI), that harms multiple organ systems. This situation has worsened up in metropolitan cities across the world and caused 5,00,000 lung cancer and 1.6 million COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) deaths annually, 19 per cent cardiovascular and 21 per cent of stroke deaths. Development induced pollution has shrinked access to affordable open and green spaces for all age groups. Poor urban development plans and mass migrated population from lower strata of society are bound to live in slums, with no fresh air, no ventilation, sunlight not able to reach ground, unhygienic living conditions and lack of sanitation put them at door of NCDs. The demographic effects of air pollution reveal distinct disparities: families from high socio economic background often escape to natural environments such as beaches and hill stations, utilizing their resources to mitigate exposure to pollutants. Conversely, individuals from middle-income groups tend to invest in air purification technologies for their homes and vehicles, attempting to create cleaner environments within confined spaces. In stark contrast, those from lower socio-economic strata disproportionately bear the brunt of air pollution’s adverse health impacts, with prolonged exposure leading to severe respiratory ailments. Essential infrastructure, such as playgrounds for children, walking paths for adults, and activity spaces for the elderly, is insufficiently provided in increasingly congested urban environments. As urban populations continue to rise, affordable and adequate housing remains a critical challenge, often relegating communities in affluent areas may offer the necessary amenities, yet skyrocketing real estate prices render these options inaccessible to both middle-class and lower i ncome populations. The mere acknowledgement of the right to life within constitutional frameworks does not ensure a viable standard of living for all citizens. There is an urgent need for sustainable urban planning and housing initiatives that provide dignified living conditions for everyone, supported by proactive government policies and interventions.