Processed Foods and Sedentary Lifestyle Increasing Health Crisis for Indians: Expert

Hyderabad, August 4: Renowned gastroenterologist Dr. Rakesh Kalapala has highlighted that significant changes in dietary habits, the rising consumption of processed foods, and a predominantly sedentary lifestyle are severely impacting metabolic health in India.

In a special interview, Dr. Kalapala, who is a consultant gastroenterologist at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG Hospitals) and the director of the Center for Obesity and Metabolic Therapy, warned that obesity should no longer be viewed in isolation but as a complex metabolic disease affecting organs “from head to toe.”

Pointing out the dangers of modern eating habits, Dr. Kalapala stated that processed foods, laden with excessive carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, and refined sugars, have become prevalent in both urban and rural markets.

As the Vice Chair of American Bariatric Endoscopy and a fellow of American, European, and Japanese Endoscopy Societies, Dr. Kalapala explained, “Processed foods will inherently increase cravings as the stomach takes longer to feel full. Once you consume these foods, which are high in carbs and unhealthy fats without protein, it adversely affects the body’s metabolic health, leading to weight gain, fatty liver, diabetes, and other systemic issues.”

He emphasized that even those who consider themselves completely vegetarian or abstain from alcohol are falling victim to metabolic disorders.

Dr. Kalapala elaborated, “Changes in diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and excessive stress lead to metabolic changes, particularly fatty liver. When fat accumulates in the liver, it often remains silent until detected through an ultrasound or liver function test. By the time someone realizes it, the liver may already be damaged.”

He further noted that modern stress exacerbates this crisis through the gut-brain axis, stating, “Stress is a factor that drives people to overeat while simultaneously reducing physical activity.”

Discussing the youth, Dr. Kalapala pointed to alarming statistics from ICMR and National Family Health Surveys, indicating that childhood obesity rates in India have reached 15 to 18 percent. Notably, he mentioned that the roots of childhood obesity often begin in the womb.

He stated, “If a mother is overweight during pregnancy, that condition is passed to the child, leading to childhood obesity from the start.” He added that academic pressure and a lack of playgrounds in schools mean children face serious metabolic changes even in their teenage years.

The expert expressed grave concerns about the unrestricted availability of over-the-counter acid reflux medications for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Long-term use of antacids without monitoring can adversely affect bone and kidney health, with medical literature linking prolonged use to an increased risk of gastric cancer.

Additionally, Dr. Kalapala highlighted the prevalent misconceptions regarding digestive health in society, which often lead patients to delay treatment until they experience severe symptoms like bleeding or black stools.

He warned, “While colonic polyps are less common in our population compared to the West, cancer cases are on the rise, particularly among individuals aged 30 to 40.” He also noted that untreated GERD increases the risk of cirrhosis associated with hepatitis and gastrointestinal cancer linked to smoking.

Advocating for solutions, Dr. Kalapala introduced the ‘10% Rule,’ aligning with national public health goals aimed at reducing the use of oils and processed foods by 10 percent.

He advised, “You don’t need to lose 25 or 30 percent of your weight. If you are overweight, just aim to lose 10 percent, and it will positively impact your health.”

To address lifestyle-related health risks, Dr. Kalapala outlined four key points: treating prolonged sitting habits as passive smoking and taking walking breaks every 30 to 60 minutes; prioritizing food quality over quantity by regulating diets to include high-fiber, clean whole foods while eliminating sugary drinks; actively managing stress, as individuals are their best medicine; and committing to regular health check-ups to adopt preventive and precision medicine through new AI-driven health monitoring tools.

Comparing new weight loss methods, Dr. Kalapala noted that while GLP-1 receptor agonist medications effectively reduce appetite, they serve as long-term treatment options; stopping them often leads to weight regain. For more severe cases, he mentioned advanced endobariatric procedures, such as endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), which reduce stomach size through endoscopy without surgical incisions.