Consumption of junk foods has become the norm today. Not only the college students but also young software and BPO professionals, like to eat them to save time. Increasingly software and BPO professionals are more susceptible to obesity as they are tempted to consume more fast foods and ‘junk’ foods such as hamburgers, chips, pizzas, French fries, pasta, chocolates, ice-cream, fizzy cool drinks, and sweets. These foods are usually high in fat and sugar. So, these can both cause obesity and increase the risk of heart disease.
Junk Food..Is it worth it?
A survey by Assocham titled ‘Corporate Workforce: Chronic and Lifestyle Disease’ reveals that over half of corporate India’s young staff suffers from a range of chronic obesity and lifestyle problems. Employees working in the IT and IT-enabled services (ITES), media, knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and financial services topped the list. A case in point is SAP India president Ranjan Das who died of heart attack even before he could complete 42 years.
Modern lifestyle has proven to be the stimulus for the growth of heart diseases among the youth. Young India consumes more calories than they require. With higher levels of disposable incomes, youngsters easily gorge on junk food and binge on alcohol. You can find lots of packets and pouches of fried junk food in the market. Many multinational companies pushing their products with such zeal that their products have reached the hutment shops of rural India. Although Indian food was always high in calories, families now spend more on eating out and buying processed food.
According to National Sample Survey data, the consumption of junk food in India goes on increasing; of which, rural areas accounted for a major portion. Increasingly children love their Play station more than the playground. Additionally, fasts are turning into ‘couch potatoes’ with lack of outdoor activities and physical inactivity. The physical activity is less due to the study stress and rest of the time people spend on the computer or on the TV. Another disturbing phenomenon is that obesity is a serious problem among women. Habits apart, Indians are genetically predisposed to obesity.
We should re-emphasize the importance of physical activity and a balanced vegetarian diet to fight obesity. Thus, we can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Parents have a crucial role in creating an obese-free India by encouraging a healthy lifestyle and healthy food in our children from a young age.