MS Dhoni issues health advice to Gen Z: Warns against high-carb diets, lifestyles and fast-food habits | VIDEO

Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has voiced serious concerns regarding the declining physical health and changing dietary habits of younger generations in India. Speaking at an event alongside lyricist Javed Akhtar, the legendary sportsman warned that a combination of carb-heavy traditional diets, reduced daily physical activity, and the boom of fast-food culture poses long-term health risks for Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Dhoni urged the youth to take immediate charge of their physical well-being, emphasising that preventive health choices regarding movement and nutrition must become a priority for the majority, rather than remain a trend for a small segment of society.

Mismatch between traditional diets and modern routines

Highlighting the core root of lifestyle-related health risks, Dhoni explained that India’s traditional diet, which is inherently high in carbohydrates, was originally designed to fuel a population engaged in rigorous physical labour. However, as modern jobs shift to desks and daily transportation becomes effortless, continuing the same diet without equivalent output creates a massive health hazard.

"I feel it's their own health. If you see the food culture that is present in India, it depends on where you come from, and it is still a carbohydrate-rich food," Dhoni explained. "The reason was that because of the daily life that we had, the physical hard work was on the higher side. Now the same food has been transferred to the newer generation, but the physical activity that used to be earlier has gone down drastically."

Decline of daily movement

Dhoni pointed out that modern urban conveniences, such as ride-hailing services, instant transportation, and prolonged desk-based work, have eliminated incidental physical movement from daily routines. This lack of daily exercise drastically alters how the human body processes energy and stores calories, drastically increasing susceptibility to metabolic issues.

"The moment you step out of your house or your flat, you will get an auto or an Uber immediately. So you are basically getting down and sitting on a vehicle, going to your work, sitting at the desk, coming down again. So that physical activity has gone down drastically," the former skipper noted.

Why sugary and fried foods are growing threat

Beyond carbohydrates and sedentary habits, Dhoni cautioned against the unchecked consumption of processed, fried, and sugar-laden foods, a culture that was only emerging during his youth but has now hit its peak in modern India.

For individuals who do not engage in intense physical training, high intake of refined sugars and deep-fried items can accelerate long-term health complications, including obesity, cardiovascular strain, and insulin resistance.

"When we were growing up, the fast-food culture had just arrived in India, but now it is in its prime," Dhoni stated. "Sugary food and fried food are two things which are not very good for you, especially if you are not physically active."

Making fitness mass priority

While a small section of urban society has turned toward structured gym routines and fitness regimes, Dhoni stressed that health awareness must extend far beyond fitness enthusiasts. He urged the majority of Indians to incorporate basic movement, conscious portion control, and reduced sugar and fried food intake into their everyday lives.

"A small segment of our society has become fitness-oriented. But we will not talk about small segments—we will talk about the majority," Dhoni emphasised, concluding that long-term vitality relies on adapting everyday eating patterns and staying consistently active in a rapidly changing modern world.