Redesigning the urban environment to promote physical activity in Southern India

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes has become the most common metabolic disorder. Its prevalence is growing most rapidly among people in the developing world, primarily due to the rapid demographic and epidemiological changes in these regions. According to IDF, India currently leads the world with an estimated 41 million people with diabetes; this figure is predicted to increase to 66 million by 2025. The diabetes epidemic is more pronounced in urban areas in India, where rates of diabetes are roughly double those in rural areas. The authors report on an initiative to redesign urban environments in India, promoting physical activity and effectively reducing rates of obesity-related conditions, including diabetes.