All sorts of studies and reports have indicated that India will soon be the diabetes capital of the world. In this, I think Bombay is going to be a torch-bearer.
Just try a visit to any middle-class locality and you’ll see more people with big stomachs than those without. While shopping for groceries this morning, I was startled to find myself the most fit-looking guy in the supermarket. I peeped into their shopping carts and what I saw was an excess of cokes and potato chips and chocolates. Now add that to a diet of fried foods, and parathas laced with ghee and extra servings of rice with fattening curries and papads and pickles. Combine this with the fact that most Middle Class people have no time for any kind of meaningful exercise except for a slow paced walk in the morning and you have your answer as to why this country is becoming a coronary artery disease and diabetes hub!
Let’s face it: this city is not conducive to fitness. It’s tough to run on the streets, without breathing in toxic fumes from vehicles, the pot-holed filled roads and sidewalks are another problem. The sea is just too polluted to swim in and most of the pools in the city are not cleaned regularly. That leaves people with the option of expensive gym membership or running on the few places suitable in the city, like the Worli Sea Face, Bandstand, Carter Road, Juhu Beach and Marine Drive. What happens if you’re far away from these places? Tough Luck, I guess!
But then again, we Bombayites are underdogs. We thrive under adverse conditions and take pride in overcoming the challenges of daily life in this city. So, I will continue running on Juhu Beach, dodging cricket balls, the hordes of humanity around the Ramada, the tides and of course, the heat. If fitness was easy, I guess I wouldn’t value it that much.
Just try a visit to any middle-class locality and you’ll see more people with big stomachs than those without. While shopping for groceries this morning, I was startled to find myself the most fit-looking guy in the supermarket. I peeped into their shopping carts and what I saw was an excess of cokes and potato chips and chocolates. Now add that to a diet of fried foods, and parathas laced with ghee and extra servings of rice with fattening curries and papads and pickles. Combine this with the fact that most Middle Class people have no time for any kind of meaningful exercise except for a slow paced walk in the morning and you have your answer as to why this country is becoming a coronary artery disease and diabetes hub!
Let’s face it: this city is not conducive to fitness. It’s tough to run on the streets, without breathing in toxic fumes from vehicles, the pot-holed filled roads and sidewalks are another problem. The sea is just too polluted to swim in and most of the pools in the city are not cleaned regularly. That leaves people with the option of expensive gym membership or running on the few places suitable in the city, like the Worli Sea Face, Bandstand, Carter Road, Juhu Beach and Marine Drive. What happens if you’re far away from these places? Tough Luck, I guess!
But then again, we Bombayites are underdogs. We thrive under adverse conditions and take pride in overcoming the challenges of daily life in this city. So, I will continue running on Juhu Beach, dodging cricket balls, the hordes of humanity around the Ramada, the tides and of course, the heat. If fitness was easy, I guess I wouldn’t value it that much.
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