‘Hypertension high in Kerala, low in Bihar’:

‘Hypertension high in Kerala, low in Bihar’:

Context

• A study ‘Diet and Nutritional Status of Urban Population in India and Prevalence of Obesity, Hypertension, Diabetes and Hyperlipidaemia in Urban Men and Women’ carried out by the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau during 2015-16, by researchers from the National Institute of Nutrition, has brought to the notice that prevalence rates for non-communicable diseases (NCD) as well as stunting, under-nutrition and obesity in children under 5 years in the 16 States surveyed.

Reason for prevalence of Non Communicable Diseases NCD):

The increase in incidence of NCDs can be attributed to a

• Change in food habits,
• Increased consumption of Alcohol
• Increased incidence of youth resorting to drugs, alcoholism,smoking
• Stressful lifestyle with long working hours
• Lower standards of food safety
• Increasing population and congestion on roads and public places.
• Sedentary behaviour and unhealthy lifestyles.
• Degradation of environment, loss of biodiversity,
• High levels of pollution

What are the findings of the Survey:

• Kerala has the highest prevalence of hypertension as well as high cholesterol in urban men and women.
• Puducherry tops the list of States with the highest prevalence of diabetes.
• Highest prevalence of hypertension was found to be in Kerala (31.4% women and 38.6% men) and lowest in Bihar (22.2% men and 15.7% women).
• Puducherry had the highest number of diabetic men and women (42%), followed by Delhi (36%), Karnataka and Kerala (33% each). Diabetics were the highest in the age group of 60-70 and lowest in the age group of 18-30.
• Tamil Nadu was close behind with 54% men and 38% women recorded as obese.
• Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh recorded high levels of obesity among its urban men and women.
• While U.P. had the highest (43.6%) proportion of underweight children followed by Madhya Pradesh (32.3%), Puducherry had the lowest (14.2%).
• Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala were among the top six States which had the most tobacco smokers among urban men.

Conclusion:

The research conducted by National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau during 2015-16 suggests that the lifestyle pattern is one of the most important factor for prevalence of hypertension, obesity, stunting, undernutrition etc.