Lifestyle Choices Fuel Epidemics of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease among Asian Indians

Within the next 15 years, India is projected to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation. Due to the rapid pace of urbanization and modernization fueling population growth, in conjunction with a genetic predisposition to insulin resistance, India is suffering a rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including coronary artery disease (CAD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and stroke. In addition to the genetic predisposition, major negative lifestyle factors are contributing to the alarming outbreak of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among the Asian Indian population; these factors include:1) a diet high in added sugar, refined grains and other processed foods, 2) physical inactivity, 3) vitamin D deficiency (VDD), and 4) smoking/pollution.

Source: Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases - August 12, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Evan L. O’Keefe, James J. DiNicolantonio, Harshal Patil, John H. Helzberg, Carl J. Lavie Source Type: research