A new report has revealed that men are healthier than women in India. According to the latest GOQii’s “India Fit Report 2024” titled “Thriving at Any Age: The Blueprint for Healthy Longevity,” a staggering 59 percent of women were categorized as unhealthy as compared to the 40 percent of men. This reveals that a significant health outcome disparity with a particularly distressing spotlight on the wide health gap between genders.
Geographically, Patna emerged as the unhealthiest city in India with 55% of individuals reporting being unhealthy. Surat (63%) followed by Jaipur (61%) have the highest percentage of healthy people. 23% of Chandigarh’s population suffers from High BP in 2023.
The report also reveals that 16 percent of women fell into the obese category.
“The health gender gap transcends mere numbers; it urgently highlights the necessity for targeted health interventions tailored for women. This underscores a compelling need to actively work towards closing this unjust gap,” the company said in a statement.
Stress continues to be major burden
Adding to the grave health situation is the fact that Indians are still continued to be plagued by stress, affecting the physical and mental well-being of individuals across all walks of life, it stated.
The study exposes a grim reality where 26 percent of Indians report being trapped in the throes of work-related stress, while financial instability plagues 17 percent of the population. An even more concerning trend is the sharp rise in stress levels among women, skyrocketing from 25 percent in 2021 to an alarming 35 percent in 2023.
According to the report, the alarming rise in mental health concerns is closely connected to intense performance demands and high expectations common in nmerous professional sectors. The ramifications of enduring such high stress are profound, adversely affecting not only individual mental and physical well-being but also diminishing workplace productivity and impairing personal relationships.
Impact of lifestyle diseases
According to the study, 23 percent of Indians Suffer from High Blood Pressure. In addition to stress, lifestyle diseases significantly impact Indians. The report also reveals that such conditions remain a critical health concern, with high blood pressure affecting 23% of the population.
The report indicates that there has been no respite from lifestyle illnesses. Over the last 3 years they have been consistently there with Diabetes, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure and Thyroid being the four most common lifestyle problems among people in India.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that these lifestyle diseases are responsible for 80 percent of all deaths worldwide. They are the leading cause of death in the developed world, and the numbers are increasing. Poor lifestyle choices are the main reason for these lifestyle illnesses, which in turn result in the majority of these deaths.
“Lifestyle diseases impact people of all ages and from all walks of life. These conditions affect children, adults, and the elderly, however, they are most commonly linked with those in their later years. The senior age group suffers the most from lifestyle-related ailments. Blood pressure is the most common condition in this age group with almost 48 percent of the population having high blood pressure, followed by diabetes at 38 percent and cholesterol at 30 percent,” the company revealed.
This report serves as a dire warning, especially for the women of India, who are facing an escalating health crisis, evidenced by a 35 oercent spike in stress levels. The pervasiveness of work-related anxiety and lifestyle diseases, with high blood pressure affecting 23 percent of our citizens, calls for an immediate, unified response, it stated.
Vishal Gondal, Founder & CEO, GOQii said that it’s time to prioritize and implement comprehensive health interventions to safeguard our nation’s future.
“The ageing Indian population faces the most significant impact from lifestyle diseases, with seniors grappling predominantly with cognitive issues, high blood
pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. The report is a clarion call to action for sweeping changes in India’s approach to health and longevity,” he added.
