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India-Pakistan
More money, more food: India faces diabetes crisis
2006-09-16
Expert says Indians are prone to diabetes because centuries of food shortages have led to genetic changes that encourage the storage of food as fat

RISING incomes and huge servings of bad food - from deep-fried samosas to pizza and burgers - have sparked a surge in diabetes cases in India that threatens the health care system, experts say. The creaky medical system in this country of 1.1 billion people has traditionally focused on contagious diseases like malaria, polio and measles - made chronic by a lack of food and proper sanitation for millions.

But as India's economy grows, more and more people - half the population is under 25 - are swapping lives of physical labour and homemade meals of rice and lentils for sedentary office jobs and big helpings of greasy take-away. As a result, the number of diabetes cases, now at some 35 million, is expected to more than double in the next 25 years, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The heart bleeds. Or maybe it's the chapattis. No doubt they'll find a way to deal with it, just like the last couple generations of Americans found a way to deal with it.
Posted by:Fred

#7  Genetics!
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-09-16 15:43  

#6  genetic changes that encourage the storage of food as fat

Yes, yes, yes, I am the way I am because of genetics! Ge-ne-tics!!! And besides, I'm not fat, I'm big-boned! I must be indian somehow, I think.
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-09-16 15:42  

#5  Indians already have peppers and have shown a willingness to use them for centuries, now you've given them the Hydrogen Habanero!

I agree! I must admit that I was reluctant to expand their capsicum capabilities, but I concluded that there would be no harm done. However, my wife has informed me that they are trying to enhance the technology I inadvertantly bestowed upon them.

All across Vasant Kunj there is a war being waged as to who can produce a HOTTER pepper. As it stands now, no one can claim superiority because no one has what it takes to sample the product. I
neglected to educate them about scoville units.

I continue to monitor the situation!
Posted by: Texas Redneck   2006-09-16 14:47  

#4  I have since sent packets of seeds, and quite a few have been making good money growing the tasty peppers and selling them. I call it good diplomacy, people to people.

I call it crazy! Pepper proliferation is way the hell worse than nuke sleaziness. Indians already have peppers and have shown a willingness to use them for centuries, now you've given them the Hydrogen Habanero!
Posted by: 6   2006-09-16 13:47  

#3  Samosa's are wonderful, along with Gulab Jamuns and other delicacies. When I was there in March visiting family, I participated in a delightful Hindu rite/festival called Holi. The neighbors stuffed all manner of Indian treats into me with no harmful side effects.

That and I looked like a technicolor fat Texan. They were amazingly hospitable people, of course being married to an Indian woman didn't hurt.

They invited me into their homes, stuffed me with all manner of treats, pulled me into the streets to dance with their wives and daughters and generally adopted me. Were amazed at my capacity for the consumption of spicy food.

I in turn introduced them to habenero jelly and jalapeno poppers. They were amazed and subdued by the firey heat of the mighty habenero! I have since sent packets of seeds, and quite a few have been making good money growing the tasty peppers and selling them. I call it good diplomacy, people to people.

Of course this post is appropo of nothing and off topic, but I really like the average Indian person on the street. They treated me like a celebrity simply because I was there in their community and not in some westernized and comfortable box.

This has turned into a Saturday afternoon ramble, so I'll close it. Oh, and, DEATH to Islam.
Posted by: Texas Redneck   2006-09-16 13:11  

#2  maybe they can call an outsourced technical help center for advice
Posted by: Frank G   2006-09-16 08:30  

#1  half the population is under 25 - are swapping lives of physical labour and homemade meals of rice and lentils for sedentary office jobs and big helpings of greasy take-away.

Things are looking up. When gout raises its ugly head you'll know India has arrivee.
Posted by: 6   2006-09-16 07:45  

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