Picking up your child from school in a car everyday? Delhi cardiologist warns parents to rethink this habit. Here's why

Every afternoon at school pickup, a quiet pattern repeats itself across many neighbourhoods. Long lines of cars sit parked with engines running, parents scrolling through their phones as they wait for the gate to open. It looks harmless, almost routine, but a Delhi cardiologist believes this everyday habit is shaping a dangerous lifestyle for both children and adults. His warning is blunt, urgent, and aimed at anyone who chooses convenience over movement — even when the school is just a short walk away.

Delhi cardiologist Dr Shailesh Singh recently took to X to highlight what he sees every day at 3:30 pm during school dispersal. He described rows of cars with air conditioners running as parents wait inside for nearly half an hour while the school sits barely 800 meters from most homes. Dr Singh said this pattern is teaching children to see walking as something undesirable, while parents later wonder why lifestyle disorders show up as early as the twenties. He added that the habits created in childhood eventually turn into cycles that affect long-term health.




Dr Singh also pointed out that adults often repeat the same behaviour at work. In another post, he wrote about looking around during office hours to see who uses the stairs, who chooses to stand during calls, and who steps out for a short walk at lunch. According to him, these small decisions decide who stays healthier in the long run, while the rest continue to struggle with preventable health issues.

He followed this with a reminder that consistent, simple actions have the power to reshape a person’s entire life. Dr Singh explained that a single daily walk can turn into a long-lasting habit, and over time that habit becomes a part of one’s identity. He believes these small shifts build a stronger version of oneself, capable of far more than most people initially assume.

Benefits of walking

Harvard Health Publishing notes that walking packs far more power than most people realise.

- Their research found that people who walked briskly for an hour a day cut the influence of obesity-related genes nearly in half.
- A short 15-minute walk can also dial down chocolate cravings, as shown in studies from the University of Exeter.
- Citing, American Cancer Society study, Harvard Health shared that the studies linked 7 hours of weekly walking to a noticeably lower risk of breast cancer.
- Other research shows that regular walking eases arthritis pain, strengthens the joints and even reduces the chances of developing osteoarthritis. It also supports immunity. In a study of over a thousand adults, those who walked frequently fell sick less often and recovered faster.