A woman travelling through Europe has sparked a conversation about ageing, fitness and lifestyle after sharing an observation that left her questioning the ways Indians approach health and physical activity. She said she repeatedly came across Europeans in their 70s and 80s travelling alone, carrying their luggage and walking long distances, something she believes is less common in India.
In a post on X, Kavita said she was struck by the fitness and independence of elderly people she encountered during her trip across Europe. “These are the ‘old people’ I keep seeing while travelling in Europe, and many of them are well over 70 or even 80, travelling alone, carrying their own suitcases, walking everywhere, and looking incredibly fit,” she said alongside
a picture which showed two elderly couples with their luggage at what appeared to be a train station.
“There’s Something Wrong With Indian Lifestyle”
The sight led her to question whether there are deeper lifestyle differences between Europeans and Indians when it comes to diet and physical activity. “It honestly makes me wonder: there is something terribly wrong with Indian lifestyle when it comes to our diet, and physical activity,” she wrote. “People above 50 find it difficult to walk for long and we can see the huge number of wheelchair in airports during travels.”
Towards the end of her post, she explained the bigger picture, saying that fitness should not simply be viewed as a means to extend one’s lifespan. Instead, she argued that maintaining physical strength is important for an independent life. She said, “The real goal of being fit isn’t just to live longer. It’s to stay independent enough to enjoy those extra years.”
“They Have Stress-Free Life”
Her comparison has since drawn significant attention on the platform, with mixed reactions. While some suggested ways to improve the health and lifestyle of elderly people in India, others asked what the basis of her opinion is.
“Yes. We as a country are still embroiled in outdated social norms and expectations. Especially women do not focus on their own health and diet. Plus, we also need to build better infra and public transport to enable people to travel alone and for cheap,” said a user.
Another quipped, “They have stress free life. That’s the main cause. From the moment they are born their life is easy maybe not for all but for majority of the population. We still fight for a basic life.”
These are the “old people” I keep seeing while travelling in Europe, and many of them are well over 70 or even 80 , travelling alone, carrying their own suitcases, walking everywhere, and looking incredibly fit ❤️
It honestly makes me wonder: there is something terribly wrong… pic.twitter.com/cypno26UQJ
— Kavita (@Kavitastocks) August 29, 2026
“A low nutrient food habit filled with carbs and very low in protein, lack of physical exercise or sports or even regular walking… the reason why many Indians especially women develop knee problems soon after menopause and struggle to walk,” an individual explained.
Meanwhile, someone said, “‘In India…People above 50 find it difficult to walk for long’. What is the basis of this statement? Was any study conducted? You just wanted to sound smart so you just made up something. Use some rationality.. instead of being in an eternal hurry to ‘look’ intelligent.”
A different person commented, “Those people standing there have no one to accompany them, no children, grandchildren etc and that too a caring one. That is why they are alone and keep travelling to fulfill the emotional vacuum.”
(Disclaimer: This article is based on user-generated content. The claims made in the original post have not been independently verified by News18)
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