Lifestyle diseases spike in Himachal Pradesh
The sixth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) has painted a worrying picture for Himachal Pradesh, with obesity rates nearly tripling over the past two decades and sharp increases in diabetes and hypertension. The data, released recently, shows that 38.2% of women and 31.4% of men in the hill state are now overweight or obese, up from 13.3% and 10.6% respectively in NFHS-3 (2005-06). These figures exceed the national averages of 30.7% for women and 27.3% for men.
Diabetes and hypertension on the rise
High blood sugar now affects 20.6% of women (up from 13.9% in NFHS-5) and 20% of men (up from 14.7%). Surprisingly, diabetes is more prevalent in rural areas than urban ones. Hypertension has climbed to 24.1% among women and 31.7% among men, compared to 22.2% and 24.4% in NFHS-5. This contrasts with national trends, where hypertension prevalence has declined to 19.4% for women and 22.1% for men.
Experts attribute rise to lifestyle changes
Dr Jitender Mokta, Professor in the Department of Medicine at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), said, “For a hilly state like Himachal, the consistently rising prevalence of these diseases is both surprising and worrying. People have stopped walking, physical activity has declined, and dietary habits have changed for the worse.” He also cited unhealthy sleep patterns and rising stress levels as major contributors.
Primary healthcare under scrutiny
Dr PC Negi, former Head of the Department of Cardiology at IGMC, questioned the effectiveness of primary healthcare services. “Primary healthcare services are expected to create awareness about these diseases, screen people for early detection and ensure regular monitoring and treatment. If the prevalence continues to rise, it suggests our primary healthcare system is not as effective as it should be,” he said. He called for training health workers and ASHA workers to promote healthy diets and physical activity.
Government response and future burden
A senior health department official stated that the government aims to screen the entire eligible population for non-communicable diseases at least once a year. Dr Negi warned of long-term consequences: “If the trend continues, we will see a significant increase in heart attacks, kidney disease and other serious complications,” placing an enormous burden on the healthcare system.
