40 Per Cent Indians Unhealthy, One Out of Ten Obese, Says Study

A study by a prominent health insurance company in India claims that 40 per cent people in the country are unhealthy, while one out of every 10 is obese. Max Bupa Health Insurance has set the alarm bells ringing with the release of Bupa Health Pulse 2011 International Survey, which highlights insights into people's attitudes and perceptions on chronic diseases.

The study also said that the age group of 25-34 lost out on productivity because of illness, more than any other age group.

This age group did not have the time to follow a regular routine of exercise and other health-related best practices.

Sixty-one per cent of the respondents surveyed felt that their work commitments prevented them from exercising as much as they should have, and over half of them (57 per cent) confessed that they spent a maximum of only two hours on exercise in a week, the survey said.

About 20 per cent people in India cited 'work commitments' as the biggest barrier to making healthier lifestyle choices. Those in India (76 per cent) and China (81 per cent) agreed that they would have found exercise more motivating if they had a goal. Seven out of 10 people strongly believed that exercise would have been more motivating with a goal in sight, the study said.

Lack of motivation was the second-biggest barrier for people who wanted to exercise, it said.

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Source-Medindia