The growth and popularization of fast foods are causing abundant intake of risky foods with little nutrition value. In this respect people’s perception regarding being ‘smart’ plays a critical role.
A World Health Organization (WHO) report has estimated that 44 percent of all deaths annually in Bangladesh are linked to chronic diseases. The increasing trend of chronic diseases have been explained as a result of changing lifestyles related to food intake, less physical activity and growing tobacco use and air pollution.
The forces of globalization over the last few decades have not only made our markets and economies more interdependent but also virtually linked population of Bangladesh with people all over the world through easy modes of cultural exchange, such as: internet, movies, tourism, education, etc. All these process all together changed people’s perception, attitude and behavior while the open markets cater to our new type of needs in the form of importing and selling variety of western products like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), pizza, burger, sugary and fizzy drinks, etc.
Besides, local brands of fast-foods are also being popularized through rigorous marketing, promotion and advertising. The growth and popularization of fast foods are causing abundant intake of risky foods with little nutrition value. In this respect people’s perception regarding being ‘smart’ plays a critical role. For example: now-a-days a person is regarded smart if he/ she chooses burger over home made foods. These junk foods cause people not to eat a proper balanced diet; instead people consume large amounts of unnecessary fat and calories.
Another impact of globalization is the proliferation of computers, televisions, video games and other various forms of electronic entertainment which is helping people to avoid physical activity. Advancement of technology means less physical work is needed and electronic means of entertainment lead children, adolescents and even adults to spend more and more of their time in front of the TV, computers and playing video games rather than involving in activities demanding more physical engagement. Consequently, more and more children, adolescents and adults are suffering obesity and other forms of chronic diseases.
Further, not sleeping in the night has become a regular feature for the young generation of the country. This has become a practice as people remain busy with Internet and social networking sites, movies, video games, etc. The consequences of this tendency are taking a grave toll in health causing different types of sicknesses related to lack of sleep.
As chronic diseases have emerged as major health hazards for the people of Bangladesh, massive information, education and communication campaign should be carried out to make mass people aware of the possible grave outcomes of continuing the lifestyles that they are adopting in place of the far healthier lifestyles of the past.