The New Lancet Report Reveals 57% of Indian Women Are Physically Unfit

Historical Context: The issue of physical inactivity among women in India is deeply rooted in historical and socio-cultural factors. Traditionally, Indian society has placed a significant burden of household chores on women, often at the expense of their physical well-being. This has been compounded by limited access to public spaces and recreational facilities, which are often dominated by men. The historical context of gender inequality in India, including limited educational and economic opportunities for women, has further exacerbated this issue.

Report Overview: On June 25, 2024, The Lancet published a comprehensive report on global physical activity levels from 2000 to 2022. The report aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations, which suggest 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week. Individuals not meeting these criteria are considered insufficiently active.

Key Findings:

• Globally, one-third of adults are insufficiently active, with South Asia showing the second-highest prevalence.
• In India, 40.0-49.9% of adults did not meet the recommended activity levels in 2022.
• The situation is projected to remain unchanged by 2030, indicating a significant deviation from the global target of a 15% reduction in inactivity.
• The report highlights a stark gender disparity in India, with 57% of women being physically inactive compared to 42% of men. Globally, the disparity is 33.8% for women and 28.7% for men.

Health Implications: Physical inactivity is linked to various health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, and mental health problems. The report underscores the increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatic heart disease, and hepatitis C infections among women in South Asia.

Factors Contributing to Gender Disparity:

• Household Chores: In low-income countries, household chores are often considered sufficient physical activity for women. However, this belief is misleading as domestic chores do not provide the same health benefits as other forms of physical activity.
• Income Disparity: The Gender Inequality Index (GII) shows that countries with higher gender inequality have lower differences in physical activity levels. In high-income countries, physical activity is often a leisure activity for boys, while socio-cultural factors in low-income countries burden girls with domestic chores.

Public Spaces and Safety:

• Cultural Norms: Gender-related expectations from childhood limit girls’ participation in sports and physical activities.
• Safety Concerns: Women often feel unsafe in public spaces, leading to their confinement at home. This is particularly true in South Asia, where patriarchal norms dominate.
• Urban Mobility: In cities like Chennai, surveillance systems have been implemented to make women feel safer. However, these measures do not address the root causes of violence and harassment.

Potential Solutions:

• Policy Implementation: Encouraging behavior change through policies that provide safe and accessible opportunities for physical activity.
• Exclusive Spaces: Initiatives like ‘pink parks’ in Delhi offer women-only spaces for physical activity, although these are temporary solutions.
• Infrastructure Improvements: Enhancing visibility and safety in public spaces, such as better lighting around bus stops, can make women feel safer.

Summary:

• The Lancet report highlights significant physical inactivity among Indian women.
• Historical and socio-cultural factors contribute to this issue.
• Physical inactivity poses serious health risks.
• Gender disparity in physical activity is influenced by household chores and income disparity.
• Safety concerns limit women’s access to public spaces.
• Policy changes and infrastructure improvements are needed to address these issues.

By understanding these factors, students preparing for competitive exams can gain a comprehensive view of the challenges and potential solutions related to physical inactivity among women in India.