Bangalore most stressed-out City in India, says study

Worrying trend

This is one of the findings of the Philips Health and Wellbeing Index Report- 2011, a survey conducted by Philips Electronics India, which was made public recently. The report shows that 39 per cent of Bangaloreans approach mental health professionals as against the national average of nine per cent. Jaipur scores the lowest on this parameter at just two per cent.

The report prepared by Philips India is based on a survey conducted among 6,300 respondents in the age group of 18-60 years across 32 cities and towns. The figures also indicate how health conscious Bangaloreans are.

According to Philips India, Bangalore stands first in taking vitamins and supplements. They are also experimental in using alternative remedies to improve their health like herbal and homeopathic medicines.

“….74 per cent of respondents from Bangalore said they take vitamins and supplements and 43 per cent of respondents from Bangalore said they use herbal or homeopathic remedies for their health and wellbeing, 52 per cent get acupuncture and 52 per cent practise Yoga.”

After Bangalore, the next most health-conscious city is Kochi. At least 40 per cent of respondents from Kochi said they visited a health club facility. Delhi ranked the lowest on most of these benchmarks, the study said.

The company has also come out with the Philips Rural India Index Report, which is based on a survey conducted in 28 rural locations across India among 2,050 respondents in the age group of 18-60 years.

India, happiest nation

The health survey in India was part of a global survey conducted in 23 nations. The Health and Well-Being Index for India is 72 per cent, which is more than countries like China at 58 per cent, Brazil 60 per cent, the United Kingdom 45 per cent and the US at 55 per cent.

The study suggests that Indians top the index since they are less worried about their health, as against their counterparts in China (16 per cent) and the US (24 per cent).

The study observes: “Indians health and well-being is more passive than active. About 70 per cent of the respondents from urban India spend time with their family and friends to improve their health and well-being, whereas 33 per cent eat a special diet and 26 per cent practise yoga.”

The report reveals some interesting facts such as 83 per cent of urban Indians do not consider themselves overweight. Of those who do, the majority want to lose weight by just eating less fatty food. Women mostly resort to traditional and spiritual methods such as prayer and fasting to improve their sense of health and well-being, compared to men.

Worrying diseases

There could be claims that India is becoming the diabetic capital of the world, but Indians are most worried about their declining vision, followed by arthritis, infections and then diabetes.

Yet, only 17 per cent of the respondents from urban India visit a doctor for annual check-ups. For information on their health, 45 per cent of respondents in urban India said they visited doctors, 35 per cent consult the family and nine per cent rely on the television for information.

On the contrary, 53 per cent of the respondents from rural India depend on their family and friends as their first source of information, followed by the local doctor (20 per cent) and government hospitals (19 per cent), says the findings of the study.