Is Your Lifestyle Landing You In The Hospital?

There was a time when everyday life in India demanded movement. Parents often recall how their youth was spent walking long distances, running errands, or working in fields and bustling markets activity wasn’t optional, it was simply life. Today, everything from meals to meetings arrives at our doorstep or screens, and physical effort has given way to automation. While technology and convenience have brought progress, they have also quietly rewritten how our bodies function. The gap between generations is now not just about culture, but also about health and especially about the diseases emerging as a result of this sedentary shift.The Data: A Surge in Lifestyle-Driven DiseasesThe numbers tell a stark story. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung conditions now cause about 65 per cent of all deaths in India, up from 37.9 per cent in 1990, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research and the World Health Organization. ICMR’s 2023 assessment links more than half of chronic illness to poor diet and lifestyle habits. This shift is most evident among the young: a quarter of all NCD deaths strike Indians between 30 and 70, with a rising number in their 20s.As per reports , Cardiovascular disease now claims up to 28 per cent of Indian lives, diabetes affects over 77 million, and another 25 million are pre-diabetic a number poised to rise to 134 million by 2045. According to the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) Task Force’s 2024 report and National Family Health Survey-5., obesity, once rare, now touches nearly four in ten city-dwelling adults, and one in seven school children is overweight.The New Faces of Disease: Why Young Indians Are at RiskOnce considered “old people’s problems,” diseases like heart attacks, hypertension, and diabetes now regularly affect Indians in their 20s and 30s. Dr. Vishwanath Sathyanarayanan, Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist at Apollo Hospitals Bangalore, observes, “Conditions we used to link with the 40s and 50s—type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, even premature heart disease—are now showing up in individuals in their late 20s and early 30s. The primary reasons are prolonged sitting, unhealthy diets, smoking, alcohol, disrupted sleep, and relentless stress”.The shift is shaped by a perfect storm:Consumption of highly processed, sugar-rich foods and takeaways A rapid decline in everyday physical activity and manual tasks Excessive screen time for both work and entertainment Late nights, poor sleep hygiene, and increased mental stress Early and regular exposure to tobacco and alcohol Missed Signals: Why Young People Delay Seeking HelpWhat’s especially tragic is how often these conditions go unnoticed. Young people may dismiss fatigue, headaches, chest pain, mood swings, or weight changes as nothing more than the “stress of modern life.” As Dr. Tushar Tayal, Consultant, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, points out, “India urgently needs to rethink screening ages because the disease profile has shifted younger. Diseases like diabetes and hypertension are increasingly appearing in people in their 20s and 30s due to urban stress, sedentary habits, processed diets, and genetic predisposition”.He and other experts call for routine annual screenings including for blood sugar, cholesterol, and even mental health beginning not in your 40s but as early as your mid-20s.Obesity, Fatty Liver, and the Hidden EpidemicsObesity is one of the most alarming and rapidly worsening threats. According to the NAMS Task Force, up to 31 per cent of Indians in some states are overweight or obese. Dr. Mohit Sharma, Senior Consultant at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, adds, “India now faces a dual burden of malnutrition and obesity, with the latter increasingly prevalent in urban and semi-urban populations due to sedentary lifestyles, processed food consumption, and chronic stress”.Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is now the leading cause of liver ailments among young Indians, often tied to insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is increasingly common in young women and is a predictor of future diabetes and even certain cancers, further cementing these as issues of youth rather than aging.Mental Health: The Invisible AggravatorBurnout, anxiety, and depression are no longer rare among students and young professionals—and far from being just a “mental” problem, they worsen the very metabolic risks that trigger lifestyle diseases. Both chronic stress and untreated mental health issues drive unhealthy eating, inactivity, and poor sleep, setting up a vicious cycle that further damages physical health.Tobacco, Alcohol, and Urban PollutionTobacco use remains deeply entrenched, with one in five men and one in twenty women losing their lives to it often through early strokes or respiratory illnesses. Add to this the burden of alcohol, high blood pressure from stress, and the toxic air in many cities, and the dangers multiply. The Global Burden of Disease Study ranks air pollution as one of India’s top three causes of death, with respiratory diseases surging each year.Economic and Social Costs: Not Just a Health IssueAccording to a joint report by the World Economic Forum and the Harvard School of Public Health, India is projected to lose approximately USD4.58 trillion in economic output between 2012 and 2030 due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with cardiovascular diseases alone expected to account for USD 2.17 trillion of this burden. Additionally, a study published by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) highlights that obesity-related healthcare costs in India were estimated at USD 28.95 billion in 2019, and if current trends continue, this figure could rise to USD 838.6 billion by 2060 if trends continue unchecked. For families, the burden includes lost wages, long-term caregiving, and escalating medical bills. For young patients, it can mean diminished career prospects and personal aspirations.India’s Response: Screening, Policy, and HopeRecognising the urgent threat, the Indian government has launched large-scale programs to catch and manage these diseases earlier. The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, and a population-based screening drive aim to reach 500 million people by 2025. Yet, doctors underline that public health policy is only one piece of the puzzle lasting change comes through education, early intervention, and accessible care woven into the fabric of schools, colleges, offices, and communities.Practical Solutions: What You Can DoThere’s hope in the small choices made daily, experts suggest:Walk short distances, climb stairs, and break up sitting with movement Choose home-cooked meals and limit processed food and sweetened drinks Make time for physical activity—yoga, dancing, running, or even brisk walks Set boundaries on screen time and prioritiSe restful sleep Take mental health as seriously as physical health and seek support when needed Schedule regular checkups starting in your 20s, not your 40s Voices of CautionDr. Manoj P. Mathews, Senior Consultant at KIMSHEALTH Trivandrum, notes, “Behind all the achievements, a silent epidemic is brewing, brought on by poor lifestyle. Non-Communicable Diseases are rapidly becoming a problem of epic proportions. NCDs account for nearly 65 per cent of deaths in India today”.But the message is not one of helplessness. With awareness and action, India’s youth can avoid becoming just another statistic. The tools for prevention are available the moment to use them is now.Read More