Karnataka's no-exercise rate up as desk jobs, sugar-heavy diet take a toll

Bengaluru: As Karnataka’s middle class grows and nuclear families multiply, young adults have dramatically reduced their physical activity, with the “no-exercise” rate nearly tripling, as per an analysis of a WHO survey.

C M Lakshmana, a professor at Bengaluru-based Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC), analysed the data in 2024-25 from the World Health Organisation-Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) India survey Wave-1 (2007–08) and Wave-2 (2015–16), which was conducted by him.

The analysis applies contemporary public-health benchmarks to assess how past behavioural changes translate into today’s risks for working-age population.

The survey paints a stark picture: physical inactivity among those aged 18–49 in Karnataka skyrocketed by over 2.5 times, from 17% to 43.5%. Nationally, non-physical activity nearly tripled.

The analysis probed why many working-age adults failed to meet the WHO’s minimum standards of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. By looking at factors like desk-heavy jobs and family life and diet, the analysis shows how modern work culture and lifestyle are making it harder for the core labour force to stay healthy.

Speaking to DH, Prof Lakshmana said the shift threatens to cripple the state’s demographic dividend with a surge in lifestyle diseases. He attributes this shift to relentless work pressure, a reliance on junk food, and the lifestyle changes inherent in nuclear families.

“In North India, many still engage in physical labour, but in the south, intense desk jobs, sugar-heavy diets, and a lack of time for exercise mean diabetes hits harder,” he noted.

“These habits have led to a cluster of conditions, including high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol levels known as metabolic syndrome. Historically, lifestyle diseases were considered the ailments of the elderly, however, the current generation is entering a high-pressure workforce earlier and remaining sedentary longer,” he said.

He further noted that prolonged sitting at desk jobs causes skeletal muscle unloading. When muscles aren’t moving, they lose their ability to effectively pull glucose from the bloodstream, leading to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes as early as age 20.

Also, entry-level roles and high-growth careers often come with chronic stress.

Additionally, with nuclear families lacking the time-wealth of traditional setups, home-cooked, fiber-rich meals are being replaced by ultra-processed junk foods. These diets are high in sodium and refined sugars, leading to hypertension and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

Nearly 78% of young adults reported insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables. While Karnataka performs slightly better than other states in terms of sufficient intake, the overall nutritional gap remains wide.

“Everyone knows they need at least 6,000 steps a day, but work and earnings often come first,” Prof Lakshmana said.

He warned that as fertility rates decline and dual-income nuclear families become the norm, motor vehicles are replacing walking and junk food is filling time gaps. This “middle-class spending trap” is fuelling obesity, hypertension, and diabetes across all age segments.

As recent Lancet reports suggest nearly 50% of Indian adults are physically inactive, this study urges a shift toward personal health discipline. “Government policies like school ‘water bells’ exist, but personal commitment to exercise is now crucial,” he stressed.

As non-communicable diseases, such as heart attacks, have increased by over 40% among both youth and adults, he noted that the population must engage in physical activity so the country can leverage its labour force to grow the economy.

Concerning trend Physical inactivity among those aged 18–49 in Karnataka skyrocketed from 17% to 43.5% Nationally, non-physical activity nearly tripled from 12% to 33.5%  Nearly 78% of young adults reported insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables Reasons for this shift include relentless work pressure, a reliance on junk food, and lifestyle changes inherent in nuclear families.