New Delhi-Have you ever noticed why the weight of both husband and wife starts increasing almost the same after a few years of marriage? A recent report by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) sheds light on this. The report has revealed shocking that one in every four married couple is struggling with obesity or overweight problem. The most concern in this is that this problem is now being seen more among the youth, especially in urban and economically affluent families.
What came out in the report?
The study has been conducted by researchers from ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Teri School of Advanced Studies and other institutions. He analyzed 52,737 married couples based on data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21).
major findings
27.4% pairs are in a similar position at the level of obesity.
This figure is even higher in urban areas – 38.4%, while in rural areas 22.1%.
The highest obese couples were found in Kerala (51.3%), Jammu and Kashmir (48.5%), Manipur (47.9%), Delhi (47.1%) and Goa (45%).
In rich couples, this problem was found to be 4.3 times more than the poor.
Being together makes habits shared
According to the report, after marriage, there is equality in husband and wife’s food, routine and lifestyle. Both adopt each other’s habits, whether they want to eat late at night, order junk food or eat while watching TV. Dr. Shalini Singh, senior scientist at ICMR, says, “Married couples are not biologically the same, but their social, economic, emotional and environmental experience shared, which has the same impact on their health.”
Home arrangement and obesity
According to the report, 28.9% of the same obesity levels were found in couples living in the nuclear family (single family), while in joint families the figure was 25.9%. The reason is that in joint families, physical activities remain due to physical labor, household chores and family cooperation, while in single families, external food and sitting habits are more.
Study also becomes the reason
Obesity was found to be the same in 31.4% of cases of couples who hold the same education level. The level of studies not only affects thinking, but also determines the habits of eating and drinking, exercise and routine.
Increasing danger among youth
The most shocking aspect in this study is that the rate of obesity is increasing at the fastest rate of married joints under 30 years of age. For example:
In Kerala, 42.8% of the same obesity was found in joints under 30 years of age.
Goa – 37%
Jammu and Kashmir-31.6%
Tamil Nadu – 29.6%
This indicates that in the early stages of life, metabolic disturbances are starting in the body, which can already cause diseases like diabetes, heart disease and blood pressure.
Geography of obesity in states
According to the report, obesity and lifestyle similarity is more clearly visible in some states. Below are some state -wise figures:
High level (above 40%):
Kerala (51.3%)
Jammu and Kashmir (48.5%)
Manipur (47.9%)
Delhi (47.1%)
Goa (45%)
Tamil Nadu (42.7%)
Punjab (42.5%)
Medium level (25-35%):
Andhra Pradesh
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Telangana
Uttarakhand
Low level (19-22%):
States of Eastern and Northeast India like Odisha, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Tripura
Opinion of experts
Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh, who is the leading writer of this study, says, “Obesity is no longer a personal problem, it is deeply associated with social and family habits. When the husband and wife eat the same kind of food, watch TV together, and stay away from exercise-then obesity grows together. So now is the time that we start a health program for family and couples.”
What is the solution?
Couple-focused health campaigns need to run.
Urban, rich and young couples should be made aware.
There should be an initiative to harmonize both food and drink habits and physical activities.
Healthy lifestyle should be described as trendy and necessary through social media and private healthcare.
This report not only shows the figures, but also shows the mirror of the rapidly changing lifestyle in India and the impact on its health. When we create a family, we start sharing not only relationships, habits and diseases. Therefore, health is now needed to take steps not personal, not personal, but by considering collective responsibility.
