Times News Network

Bangalore, Feb 2: Rare visits to the dentist, chomping on junk food between meals, sedentary lifestyles devoid of exercise... sounds familiar? Then you might just fall into the bracket of 'unhealthy'.

How healthy is the IT City? Not very, if statistics are anything to go by. A recent survey conducted across 7,000 respondents in Bangalore has shown that Bangalore's health index stands at 58 (on a scale of 100), putting Bangaloreans in the "Unsatisfactory" rating. Health Quotient is an index that measures the disorders linked to a stressful and hectic urban lifestyle.

It has been developed based on the health standards suggested by the Indian Medical Association, Mumbai branch, and insurability parameters recommended by a life insurance firm.

Sujata Dutta, VP, Tata AIG Life Insurance Company, told reporters on Thursday: "The health quotient is aimed at sensitising the common person to growing lifestyle problems. People are prone to lifestyle disorders which can drain financial resources."

As part of the initiative, individuals were administered a questionnaire. The test was supposed to enable individuals to determine how healthy their lifestyle is and where they need to make appropriate changes to decrease health risks. The respondents were also given a score certificate detailing their health index.

On a scale of 100, 80-100 is rated as 'good', 60-80 satisfactory, 40-60 'unsatisfactory' and 40 and below rated as 'poor'. These surveys will be done in various cities including Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mumbai.