Indians are lazy. That’s not me saying it, but a report by Lancet Global Health is saying it. Nearly half of Indians, or 49.4%, are not engaging in any kind of physical activity.
These results are shocking. Because if half of the nation is not participating in any form of physical activity, it means that nation will become a hot zone for diseases.
In this article, we will look into more of this report, find some reasons for the lack of physical activity among Indians, and try to find some ways to tackle it.
What does the report says
According to the report, 49.4% of Indians are not meeting acceptable physical activity levels, which, according to WHO, is 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise.
Physical inactivity is more common in women compared to men. A difference of 57% versus 42% is shocking.
Further, it should be noted that physical inactivity in India was at 22% in 2000 and 34% in 2010. It is projected to reach 60% by the year 2030.
Physical inactivity is considered a silent killer and could invite many diseases.
Possible reason why people avoid physical activity
👉 There could be multiple reasons for this. The main reason I believe, as a holistic nutritionist, is that people don’t feel the need for it. They wait for something bad to happen to them, and that’s when they wake up.
👉 A busy schedule could be a reason. People just don’t have time, and then they try to find excuses for it. Many people go to the office at 9 am and return back at 5 pm or even later. Then, they might not have sufficient time and energy to do anything more.
👉 Working from home could be another reason for inactivity. If people don’t have to travel and can work at home, then they might not feel the need for anything extra.
👉 When everything is available at one click, people become lazier. Earlier, people used to travel long distances for work, education, and even food. Now, everything is available at one click.
👉 Eating food at the wrong time, binge-watching, and sleeping at odd times are also reasons why people avoid physical activity. They’ve adopted a certain lifestyle and don’t want to add anything extra.
👉 Confusion and lack of knowledge are also reasons for physical inactivity, I think. When people think of physical activity, they imagine the gym and lifting weights. That idea overwhelms many people, and they avoid anything new.
What happens if you are physically inactive
Before I get to what happens if you are not physically active, I want to highlight some numbers: 101 million, 351 million, 254 million, 315 million, and 185 million.
These are not the number of views of my post. These numbers reflect a grim reality. Let me recapitulate.
According to the Economic Times:
- There are 101 million people in India with diabetes.
- 215 million Indians have hypertension.
- 254 million people have obesity.
- 351 million people in India have abdominal obesity.
- 185 million people in India have bad cholesterol or LDL.
I’m telling you these figures because, somewhere or another, these numbers are due to a lack of physical activity.
Yes, diet can be blamed, but our way of living is the main reason.
When we eat food, the body releases necessary enzymes to digest and use that food for energy. Suppose you are eating and eating and eating and doing no workout or activity—what will happen? The body will overload.
Physical activity or exercise plays a significant role. Understand it in terms of calories. Our body needs a specific amount of calories; it’s different for different people. TDEE is Total Daily Energy Expenditure.
It’s the total energy or calories our body needs for various functions, like breathing, digestion, etc. Our body has a system of using specific energy for various functions. The rest is stored as glycogen and fat.
Over time, this fat starts getting built up on the liver, heart, etc., which can result in various diseases like fatty liver disease, heart attack, stroke, etc.
Fat can also be deposited on the pancreas, which can affect how insulin is released. On the kidneys, it can weaken kidney function, and on blood vessels, it can restrict blood flow to the heart.
So you see, it’s all related to your physical activity and diet. There are other factors, but in this article, we will not be going into detail about them.
How to start physical activity
Look, if I tell you to start working out and going to the gym, you’ll start looking for the dislike button for the post. Well, spoiler alert, there isn’t any. However, don’t worry, I won’t be telling you to join a gym or do this and that.
But you need self-realization. Whatever choices you are making are for the future. If you choose to eat ultra-processed food, then be ready to face the repercussions.
Physical activity can be started easily; you don’t need anything fancy, and you don’t need to starve. All you need to do is make the right choices.
These things are smart things that can help you :
As you can see it’s all about mindful activities.
If I talk about myself, then yes, I go to the gym. Besides that, I’ve found that the washroom is far away, so that’s like a lot of walking. I also take the stairs to the gym, which is on the 4th floor. After dinner I make sure to walk.
In the end
The results shown by the Lancet study are scary, and what’s projected is even scarier. We often try to find solutions to our bad health and pacify a problem with medicines, but something as easy as a daily walk can help a lot.
To start physical activity, all you need to do is realize the need for it. India is already the diabetic capital; we need the right changes at the right time before it receives another accolade.
Stay healthy and keep smiling.
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