In this Business Line feature, Dr. Navin Gnanasekaran examines why ageing and chronic health risks can begin earlier in Indians than many people realise.
The article highlights a growing pattern of non-communicable diseases and explains how health risks can develop even when a person appears healthy and maintains a normal body weight.
A Different Risk Profile
Dr. Navin discusses how factors such as visceral fat, metabolic health, insulin resistance, sleep, stress, physical activity and diet can influence long-term health.
The article also points out that conventional health benchmarks do not always fully reflect the specific vulnerabilities of the Indian population.
Prevention Matters
A central message of the article is the importance of identifying health risks early rather than waiting for disease to become apparent.
Building muscle strength, maintaining cardiovascular fitness, prioritising quality sleep, improving metabolic health and managing stress are highlighted as important parts of healthy ageing.
The broader message is that living longer should also mean preserving strength, independence and quality of life through earlier and more personalised preventive care.