EDU107.

3: HEALTH AND PHYSICAL

EDUCATION

PRACTICAL
- SURVEY ON LIFE STYLE DISEASES

SUBMITTED TO, SUBMITTED BY,

Dr. K.M. BENNY SILPA BABY

MATHEMATICS

NO:211
 INTRODUCTION
Health is the level of functional and metabolic efficiency of a living
organism. In humans it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and
self-manage when facing physical, mental or social changes. The World Health
Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in its 1948 constitution as
"a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity." This definition has been subject to controversy, in
particular as lacking operational value, the ambiguity in developing cohesive
health strategies, and because of the problem created by use of the word
"complete". Other definitions have been proposed, among which a recent definition
that correlates health and personal satisfaction. Classification systems such as the
WHO Family of International Classifications, including the International
Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the International
Classification of Diseases (ICD), are commonly used to define and measure the
components of health.

There are a lot of types of health issues common with many people
across the globe. Disease is one of the most common. According to
GlobalIssues.org, approximately 36 million people die each year from non-
communicable (not contagious) disease including cardiovascular disease cancer,
diabetes, and chronic lung disease. As for communicable diseases, both viral and
bacterial, AIDS/HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria are the most common also causing
millions of deaths every year.

Lifestyle diseases are defined as diseases linked with the way people
live their life. This is commonly caused by alcohol, drug and smoking abuse as
well as lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating. Diseases that impact on our
lifestyle are heart disease, stroke, obesity and type II diabetes. The diseases that
appear to increase in frequency as countries become more industrialized and
people live longer. They can include Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, atherosclerosis,
asthma, cancer, chronic liver disease or cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, chronic renal failure,
osteoporosis, stroke, depression, and obesity.

Some commenter maintains a distinction between diseases of

longevity and diseases of civilization. Certain diseases, such as diabetes, dental
caries and asthma, appear at greater rates in young populations living in the
"western" way; their increased incidence is not related to age, so the terms cannot
accurately be used interchangeably for all diseases.

Diet and lifestyle are major factors thought to influence susceptibility

to many diseases. Drug abuse, tobacco smoking, and alcohol drinking, as well as a
lack of or too much exercise may also increase the risk of developing certain
diseases, especially later in life.

Adults can develop lifestyle diseases through behavioral factors that

impact on them. These can be unemployment, unsafe life, poor social environment,
working conditions, stress and home life can change a person’s lifestyle to increase
their risk of developing one of these diseases.
 NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE
The world today is threatened not only by the traditional diseases but
also by a host of new lifestyle related disorders like diabetes, obesity, asthma and
cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle diseases are diseases that appear to become ever
more widespread as countries become more and more industrialized. These
diseases are different from other diseases because they are potentially preventable
and can be lowered with a change in diet, lifestyle, environment etc.

Several population based studies and medical records in Kerala have

spotted the prevalence of both non-communicable and lifestyle diseases in the
state. Both of these diseases are spreading and causing death in Kerala. Though
Kerala succeeded to a great extent in reducing the vagaries of major public health
diseases like small pox, filarial and malaria, the diseases like respiratory infections;
acute diarrheal diseases etc are pausing challenges to the society and health sector.
Among the chronic illnesses, hypertension, diabetes and cardio vascular diseases
are emerging as serious health problems. Sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical
activity and obesity increase the risk of chronic diseases.

Kerala, which is at par with the developed countries in human

development indices, must conduct serious studies on obesity and associated
factors leading to lifestyle diseases.

Such a study of socio economic factors, consumption pattern and

adolescent obesity will be an eye opener to parents, teachers,
adolescents and policy makers towards prevention of lifestyle diseases in Kerala
to enable the state in its march towards sustainable health indices.
 OBJECTIVES

 To understand different types of life style diseases in our society.

 To study relationship between food habits and life style diseases.
 To aware people about the fitness of our body and to make them understand
that physical activities are very useful to decrease these lifestyle diseases.
 To find out different means for reducing lifestyle diseases.
 To find whether food control is an effective controlling measure to decrease
lifestyle diseases.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Impact of socio economic background and consumption pattern on

hypo kinetic diseases is an explored area. A lot needs to be done not only in the
form effective policies and legislation but also by targeting specific and need based
strategies. Everyone have to be viewed and focused upon with the utmost
importance because firstly, it is their human right to achieve the highest attainable
level of health. Secondly, a nation gets economic benefits because better prepared
and healthy humans will result in more productivity. Thirdly there would be health
benefits as the burden of morbidity and mortality in later life would be minimal.

Kerala, which is at par with the developed countries in human

development indices, must conduct serious study on obesity, diabetes, BP,
cholesterol and associated factor leading to life style diseases. This study will help
in preventing these lifestyle diseases in adolescents, adults and other people and
thereby to sustain a healthy developed society.
 METHODOLOGY

Descriptive survey was the method adopted for the study since it
would help to provide necessary information required for suggesting a solution to
the problem. The population selected for the study was people above the age of 35
years in Athirampuzha panchayat in Kottayam district. A sample of size 25 was
selected for the study. The tool used for the survey was a questionnaire including
18 descriptive type questions.

PROCEDURE

We conducted this study on life style diseases as a group work.

The whole work was divided into simple tasks and each task was distributed
among the 11 members of the group. As a first step towards the survey some
members of the group prepared the questionnaire containing 18 questions to collect
data necessary to attain the objectives of the study. Then another group of
members collected data from a sample of 25 people above the age of 35 years in
Athirampuzha panchayath. The collected data were analyzed carefully and then
arrived at a conclusion.
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

DOING
TREATMENT
SAMPLES AGE TYPES OF DISEASES EXERCISE/
FOLLOWING
YOGA
SAMPLE1 45 B.P ALLOPATHY NO
SAMPLE2 52 B.P HOMEOPATHY NO
SAMPLE3 58 B.P ALLOPATHY NO
SAMPLE4 65 B.P HOMEOPATHY NO
SAMPLE5 43 B.P ALLOPATHY NO
SAMPLE6 39 B.P, CHOLESTEROLE AYURVEDA NO
SAMPLE7 47 B.P AYURVEDA NO
SAMPLE8 44 B.P ALLOPATHY NO
SAMPLE9 65 DIABETES,B.P HOMEOPATHY NO
B.P,DIABETES,CHOLESTER ALLOPATHY
SAMPLE10 73 YES
OLE
DIABETES,CHOLESTEROL
SAMPLE11 48 HOMEOPATHY NO
E

SAMPLE12 59 DIABETES,B.P ALLOPATHY NO

SAMPLE13 60 DIABETES ALLOPATHY NO
SAMPLE14 72 DIABETES HOMEOPATHY NO
DIABETES,CHOLESREROL ALLOPATHY
SAMPLE15 68 YES
E
SAMPLE16 44 DIABETES HOMEOPATHY NO
SAMPLE17 38 DIABETES ALLOPATHY NO
SAMPLE18 50 CHOLESTEROLE, OBESITY ALLOPATHY NO
SAMPLE19 46 CHOLESTEROLE, OBESITY ALLOPATHY YES
SAMPLE20 52 CHOLESTEROLE ALLOPATHY NO
DIABETES,CHOLESTEROL
SAMPLE21 63 ALLOPATHY YES
E
SAMPLE22 49 OTHER DISEASES ALLOPATHY NO
SAMPLE23 54 OTHER DISEASES ALLOPATHY NO
SAMPLE24 44 NONE NONE NO
SAMPLE25 42 NONE NONE YES

By analyzing the data it is found that almost all the people in the
sample taken are affected by some or other life style diseases. 44% of the people
are affected by blood pressure, 40% by diabetes, 32% by cholesterol, 8% by
obesity and 8% are affected by other life style diseases. Among the 25 samples
taken there are only 2 people who are free from life style diseases. And these too
belong to below the age of 45 years. 92% of the people get affected by these life
style diseases because of their food habits. This shows that there is an inevitable
relationship between food habits and life style diseases. The most surprising fact is
that 96% of people are aware of these life style diseases, its causes and after
effects. 80% of the people believe that there is a relationship between physical
activity and life style diseases. Yet only 20% of people are doing regular exercises
and yoga.

The data also shows that 60% of the people are following Allopathic
treatment, 24% of people are following Homoeopathic treatment and 8% are
following Ayurvedic treatment. The remaining 8% are not get affected by these
diseases and so there is no need to follow any treatment.
The following is the graphical representation of the data showing 96% of the
people are aware of life style diseases.

LIFE STYLE DISEASES

Aware of life style diseases Not aware of life style diseases

The graphical representation of the data showing only 20% of the people is
doing regular exercise/yoga.

Sales

DOING REGULAR
EXERCISER/YOGA
DOES NOT DOING REGULAR
EXERCISE/YOGA
MAJOR FINDINGS

 Almost all the people in our society above the age of 35 years are victims of
life style diseases.
 Among the 25 people in the sample 23 are affected by various life style
diseases.
 44% people are affected by blood pressure, 40% by diabetes, 32% by
cholesterol, 8% by obesity and 8% are affected by other life style diseases.
 Majority of the respondents are in the opinion that food control and physical
activities like exercise and yoga can control these diseases to an extent.
 But only 20% are doing yoga/exercise regularly.
 As the name indicates we can definitely control life style diseases by
changing our life styles.
 Most of the people are following allopathic treatment and only 8% are
following ayurveda.

IMPLICATIONS & SUGGESTIONS OF THE

STUDY

 There is an inevitable relationship between physical activities and life style

diseases.
 Everyone irrespective of age or gender should make a habit of regular
exercise and yogic practices.
 Everyone should follow a balanced diet in their daily life.
 Everyone should check their health conditions once in every 3 months.
 CONCLUSIONS

Health is wealth without which we are nothing in this world. But

nowadays the number of healthy people is decreasing in the world. Our bad
habits and carelessness are the major reasons for these situations. People are
aware of these and nobody cares. They are celebrating each and every moment
without bothering about their health. Health is not static it is dynamic. So we
may get affected by health problems any time. We all have times of good
health, times of sickness and may be even times of serious illness. As our life
style changes so does our health. So as the name indicates life style diseases are
the consequence of our inappropriate life style. Eating healthy foods can reduce
not only our body weight but the cholesterol levels, blood pressure in our body
also. A diet that provides adequate macro and micro nutrient as well as
appropriate caloric intake can help prevent obesity.

Those of us who participate in regular can improve their health. We

strive towards an optimal state of wellbeing. As our life style improves our
health will also improve and we and we experience only very less diseases and
sickness. Physical health is only one aspect of our overall health. Physical
fitness is considered as a measure of the body’s ability to function efficiently
and effectively in work and leisure activities.

The survey on life style diseases shows that most of the people are
aware about life style diseases and it effects. But the number of people who
give preferences to health practices only a few. Our health is our wealth. So it is
very important to fight against the life style diseases through regular and
effective practices and through healthy food habits.
 REFERENCES

 http://en.wikipedia.org

 http://www.ajol.info

 http://www.medindia.net