New Delhi: On the occasion of World Health Day, a newly released nationwide health report paints a grim picture of India’s well-being, uncovering a silent epidemic of non-communicable lifestyle diseases sweeping across the population.
The findings point to a troubling surge in conditions such as fatty liver, menopause-related metabolic risks, nutritional deficiencies, and childhood obesity—revealing a hidden health crisis affecting millions of Indians.
The report paints a sobering picture of the country’s health, revealing a silent epidemic of NCDs among individuals with no visible symptoms. A staggering sixty-five per cent of over 2.5 lakh individuals screened were found to have fatty liver, with eighty-five per cent of them being non-alcoholic. Silent heart risks were detected in forty-six per cent of asymptomatic individuals, while post-menopausal women saw a rise in diabetes (from fourteen per cent to forty per cent) and obesity (from seventy-six per cent to eighty-six per cent).
Among college students, twenty-eight per cent were overweight or obese, and nineteen per cent were pre-hypertensive. The report also highlighted widespread nutritional deficiencies, with seventy-seven per cent of women and eighty-two per cent of men showing vitamin D deficiency. Additionally, six per cent showed signs of depression, and twenty-four per cent were at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Preventive health checks have grown significantly, increasing from 1 million in 2019 to over 2.5 million in 2024—a one hundred and fifty per cent rise in just five years. This reflects growing public awareness and a proactive shift towards preventive healthcare.
Experts have underscored the importance of mainstreaming preventive health into daily life. They call for integration of preventive care into educational curricula, corporate benefits, and family routines, emphasizing that preventive healthcare is no longer a future ambition—it is the cornerstone of a nation’s well-being.
The report also highlighted the success of a digital preventive health program, which uses real-time tracking and AI-based recommendations to help individuals proactively manage chronic conditions. Notable outcomes include: fifty-nine per cent of diabetics reduced HbA1C levels, fifty-one per cent of hypertensive participants lowered blood pressure, and forty-seven per cent of overweight participants achieved weight loss.
The report’s insights are drawn from de-identified electronic medical records (EMRs), structured clinical evaluations, and AI-driven risk stratification across hospitals, clinics, diagnostic labs, and wellness centers.
It zeroes in on three urgent national health challenges—fatty liver disease, post-menopausal health decline, and childhood obesity—urging the adoption of early, personalized interventions and lifestyle-based care models.
