This is an archive article published on November 21, 2022
63% men, 83% women lead sedentary lifestyle in Chandigarh, shows PGI study
According to experts, a change in lifestyle, eating healthy, well-balanced food, and physical activity can prevent most non-communicable diseases including cancer.
4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Nov 21, 2022 05:21 AM IST
It is essential to create awareness in the community regarding healthy diet keeping the target population in mind and thereby improving quality of life. Focus on school children by giving them healthy lunches, having healthy food options in the school canteen, and encouraging physical activities in schools.
The Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, has undertaken a series of initiatives to focus on the increasing disease burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, cancer, chronic lung disease, stroke, etc.
Through the several studies the department has conduction in Chandigarh region, including population-based cancer registries, it came to light that 63 per cent men and 83 per cent women in Chandigarh lead a sedentary lifestyle, said said Prof JS Thakur, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGI.
“The disease burden of NCDs is as high as 55 per cent in the country, a cause of immediate concern, and our sedentary lifestyle, along with an unhealthy diet are factors responsible for the rising cases,” added Prof Thakur. This lifestyle, added Prof Thakur, can lead to more NCDs like diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, chronic lung diseases, and mental health problems.
“Mostly, it is people above 30 years who are affected by these diseases. We need to promote a mandatory PT period of one hour in each school, fix one day for physical activity events in a month, promote the use of a community gym, partnership with a professional association like World NCD Federation to make an action plan for the city. Chandigarh has more than 1,600 parks spread across, and we definitely need to make better utilisation of these open spaces, which other cities can’t boast of,” it was stated.
According to experts, a change in lifestyle, eating healthy, well-balanced food, and physical activity can prevent most non-communicable diseases including cancer.
An unhealthy diet, including the use of tobacco and alcohol, is a modifiable risk factor for developing NCDs, and losses due to premature deaths related to heart diseases, strokes, and diabetes are also projected to increase over the years. An unhealthy diet and a lack of physical activity may show in people as raised blood pressure, increased blood glucose, and obesity.
It is essential to create awareness in the community regarding healthy diet keeping the target population in mind and thereby improving quality of life. Focus on school children by giving them healthy lunches, having healthy food options in the school canteen, and encouraging physical activities in schools.
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Prof Sanjay Bhadada, Head, Department of Endocrinology, PGI, says this year’s Diabetes Day theme is, ‘Diabetes education to protect tomorrow’, and the purpose is increasing awareness about the disease, having good glucose control, and preventing complications.
“Generally, Indians and Southeast Asians are predisposed to diabetes with increasing food and reduced physical activity. Late-night dinners and mental stress further adds fuel to fire of the abnormal genetics of Indians. As per the Chandigarh Urban Bone Epidemiology Study (CUBES), approximately 20 per cent have pre-diabetes, in addition to the known prevalence of diabetes in Chandigarh. Improve lifestyle, eat a healthy diet, and exercise to prevent the disease,” said Prof Bhadada.
Magic of millets
Experts recommend the inclusion of millets in the daily diet, with the Chandigarh Millets Mission having been recently launched.
The UN General Assembly has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets with the resolution to increase public awareness of the health benefits of millets.
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Some of the common millets available in India are ragi (finger millet), jowar (sorghum), samak (little millet), bajra (pearl millet), and variga (proso millet). Millets are nutritionally superior to wheat and rice owing to their high protein, fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium content and can act as a tool to ensure nutrition security to all, curbing nutritional deficiencies among women and children. Ragi is known to have the highest calcium content among all the food grains.
The high iron content of little millets can help fight the high prevalence of anemia in Indian women of reproductive age and infants.
Awareness sessions have been planned by PGI for visiting patients, especially in NCDs clinics as millets are high in fibre and have been documented for better management of diabetes.
Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India.
Professional Profile
Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions.
Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025)
Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture:
1. Public Health & PGIMER
"PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx.
"Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare.
"Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area.
2. Education & Institutional Governance
"Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms.
"Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking.
3. Art, Culture & Heritage
"Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status.
"Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful."
Signature Style
Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions.
X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More
