A Mumbai woman’s candid account of how her health deteriorated after moving to the United States has gone viral on Reddit, resonating strongly with members of the Indian diaspora who have faced similar struggles abroad. Reported by Trisha Sengupta from HT.
For many Indian students, studying in the US is a long-cherished dream. But for one Reddit user who relocated from Mumbai for college, the transition turned into an unexpected physical and emotional challenge. In her post, she described how daily life in a new country quietly took a toll on her well-being.
“I didn’t realize how much moving to the US would affect my body,” the Redditor wrote. She explained that it was her first time living alone, in a small town far from home. “Back home in Mumbai, India, I was always active without thinking about it, walking everywhere, catching locals, eating home food.”
According to her, things began to change gradually after the move. “Shared apartment, tiny kitchen, US groceries, no real routine. Cooking Indian food felt exhausting. Grocery shopping felt overwhelming. I wasted a lot of vegetables just because I didn’t know how to plan or use them in time,” she wrote.
As a result, she found herself skipping meals or relying on “low-effort food.” Over time, this lifestyle began to affect her health. She said she experienced low energy, missed periods, and other physical issues she had never faced before. Ending her post on a vulnerable note, she asked, “Just wanted to ask if anyone else experienced this after moving? What helped you adjust?”
The post sparked a flood of responses from users who shared similar experiences. One person commented, “Yes, I moved to the USA when I was 21 and back home in India - I never felt that I needed to do anything for my health as everything was way too healthy - home food, actual veggies, groceries were not synthetic, and food had taste! Here, everything is junk. Even when I plan to cook something at home, the veggies taste awful here! Every single thing tastes bad! I had shed some 16kgs within 10-12 months.”
Another user shared, “I developed eczema and a dairy allergy in the US. As soon as I return home to India, my eczema disappears, and I can drink local milk, eat paneer, and so on. I have no idea why this is happening. I can relate to dealing with not having regular meals; it's overwhelming to cook and eat fresh food every single day. You can start meal prepping and make your life simple. Focus on your daily tasks, take a walk and meal prep. Slowly, you'll get used to it.”
Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
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