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Abstract
India is experiencing a fast pace of socio-economic development and its population is passing through a rapid change in its life styles. Global exposures through media, rapid urbanization and industrialization coupled with the demand for work and global competition has expanded the schedule of work and reduced considerably the period for sports, leisure and socialization. As a consequence, there is a remarkable shift in the life styles of people. The stress caused share risk factors similar to prolonged exposure to three modifiable lifestyle behaviors’ such as smoking, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. As a result, there is an increasing incidence of chronic diseases specially heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome chronic obstructive pulmonary and some types of cancer. Because these diseases are strongly associated with risk factors or behaviors, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and tobacco use, they are largely preventable. Yet, the medical system in India continues to be oriented towards treating illness and disease, rather than prevention or wellness, and the incidence and prevalence of lifestyle diseases continue to grow. According a report from W H O, 61 percent of all deaths and 49 percent of the global burden of disease were attributable to such life styles. It is expected that by 2030 the proportion is expected to reach 70 percent and global burden of disease by 56 percent.