Is fitness in India really a luxury?

[Tejas]

When I look around, I see many people are quite unfit. I know that staying healthy often needs some privilege - a decent diet and a gym membership cost both money and time. But is that the only reason, or is it also about lack of awareness and laziness?

I consider myself a bit privileged because I had access to gyms and such.

What do you think?

[Kiran]

It's more about perceptions and superstitions than money.

[Madhav]

Yep. Gym culture and fitness are still foreign to many Indians, and protein intake is even considered taboo by some doctors, let alone the average person. Even though India is among the top five milk‑producing countries, affordable whey is still out of reach for most.

[Keerthi]

If you stick to the bare minimum, it's affordable even for the lower‑middle class.

[Devendra]

To a large extent, yes. Most people are still trying to earn a decent living, so fitness and nutrition aren't top of mind. Only when you have some financial cushion can you start thinking about those things. Keep in mind that many supplements are aimed at the top 10 % of the Indian population.

[Parth]

Of course it is. I went from being overweight to skinny‑fat/underweight because, at 18, I didn't have enough disposable income to join a gym.

Even now I buy bulk frozen veggies and get meat from the government butcher to save money. I switched from Epigamia's Turbo Greek Yogurt to Milky Mist's Skyr, and I stopped buying whey because it's insanely pricey. Luckily I'm short and weigh less, so I need less than 85 g of protein even with resistance training.

Besides, balancing macros, micros, fibre and tweaking your diet for health conditions also requires privilege. For example, I was diagnosed with slightly high LDL last year while bulking on butter and ghee. Too much saturated fat can raise LDL, so now I have to watch that too.

[Irfan]

It's not a luxury, it's pure laziness and mindset. In my area a gym costs about 600 rupees a month or 5 000 rupees a year.

Some doctors, who are clueless, say whey protein is bad, while others recommend it because they've seen good results.

Diet does matter - if you're aiming for a bodybuilding look it can get pricey, but if you just want to stay slim or healthy you can manage very easily. Many Indian families use a lot of oil and eat mostly fat and carbs, without a balanced meal.

If you can't afford a gym, just run, walk if you have knee issues, use less oil and eat a balanced diet.

The problem isn't privilege; it's knowledge.

[Akshara]

Not really. You don't need a gym - calisthenics at home works fine. Healthy food isn't that different from regular food, and if you meal‑prep it can even be cheaper.

[Daksha]

It's more about luxury because of our culture than personal choice.

1. Good quality food is hard to find; unregulated pesticide use raises the risk of cancer‑like diseases.
2. Even if you want to get fit, the toxic work culture leaves you with little time or energy. Stressful jobs push blood pressure up, cause obesity and stop you from even hitting your step count.
3. Most people simply don't have enough money to invest in themselves.

[Esha]

More than money, it's the mindset. People can do bodyweight exercises or calisthenics at home and eat eggs or other cheap protein sources. Many wait until chronic diseases appear before thinking about lifestyle changes. Money can make things easier - protein powders and gym fees - but the real issue is lack of awareness and motivation.

[Madhuri]

It's not a luxury - you don't need a gym or fancy equipment. Simple activities like running 5 km, a few push‑ups, chin‑ups, HIIT or yoga for flexibility cost nothing.

It's all about discipline and focus.

We don't teach kids these habits, so fitness isn't part of their daily routine. The problem is lack of knowledge and awareness, not a lack of luxury tools.