Times of India
08 July 2010
By Malathy Iyer
Mumbai, India

Malathy Iyer For ages, Mumbaikars have heaped carbs on their plates while Delhiites loved to tuck into trans–fat–laden chhole and bhature.Now,these culinary preferences are telling on the individual’s health charts. A multi–state survey shows that Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra are grappling with uncontrolled sugar levels due to the starchy diet, while Delhi is sporting a broader midriff and galloping lipid levels.

The survey, which has so far covered 16,000 patients randomly walking into 1,000 clinics across 10 states, was conducted mainly to assess the extent and control of the twin epidemic of diabetes and hypertension. The results for three cities of Maharashtra as well as Delhi have been analysed and show that most patients, despite popping pills, don’t have the diseases in check.

The figures say it all. About 73% of the patients surveyed in Maharashtra had uncontrolled diabetes, while the corresponding number for Delhi was 62%. Both Delhi and Mumbai scored equally worse on the hypertension front: if Maharashtra’s burden stood at 79% with uncontrolled BP then the figure for Delhi was 77%.

The most telling score was, however, about lipids. Around 24% of Maharashtra’s diabetic patients had altered lipid profile while the corresponding figure was more than double at 55% for Delhi. Among hypertensive patients, 21% of Maharashtra’s surveyed patients had altered lipids. For Delhi, the figure stood again at 50%.

According to Dr Shashank Joshi of Lilavati and the main investigator of the survey, the Delhi & Mumbai findings indicate a “carb vs fat” fight.