Lifestyle diseases striking younger in India warns Apollo Hospitals new report

"Driven by convenience and the relentless pace of life, our modern lifestyle has fuelled a surge in non-communicable diseases," stated Dr. Prathap C Reddy, founder & chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group. He added with concern, "NCDs are no longer just adult issues they are now striking younger, leaving lasting impacts on health and quality of life".

Youth and students bear early burden

Alarming trends emerge from screenings of nearly 285,000 students. While 8% of primary school children were overweight or obese, this figure skyrockets to 28% among college students. Prehypertension affected 9% of high schoolers and a concerning 19% of college students. Furthermore, 2% of college students showed elevated blood glucose levels. These findings underscore that the foundations for chronic NCDs are often laid during childhood and adolescence.

Silent killers: Heart disease and fatty liver

A study of over 3,100 individuals with no known heart disease history found that among the 58% who were asymptomatic, a significant 46% had coronary calcium deposits – early signs of atherosclerosis. More worryingly, 25% of those with deposits had obstructive coronary artery disease needing urgent treatment, and 2.5% were under the age of 40, highlighting the critical need for advanced imaging like calcium scoring. Hypertension remains a persistent, often silent threat, found in 26% of over 450,000 individuals screened.

The report also flags a surge in fatty liver disease, now termed Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Affecting a staggering 65% of 257,199 individuals screened, 85% of these cases were non-alcoholic, linked primarily to metabolic factors like obesity and diabetes. Crucially, over half (52%) of those diagnosed had normal liver enzyme levels in traditional blood tests, stressing the inadequacy of these tests alone for early detection.

 Women's health, mental Well-being

Women face a sharp escalation in health risks post-menopause. Diabetes prevalence jumps dramatically from 14% pre-menopause to 40% afterwards, while obesity climbs from 76% to 86%. Dr. Preetha Reddy, executive vice-chairperson emphasized the need for "age-appropriate, gender-sensitive protocols" beyond routine screenings.

Mental health challenges are also significant, with 6% of over 47,000 individuals screened showing signs of depression. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), closely linked to obesity and cardiovascular disease, poses a high risk for 1 in 4 Indians screened (24% overall). Cancer diagnoses for common types like breast, cervical, and lung cancer occur roughly a decade earlier in India compared to global averages. Additionally, widespread micronutrient deficiencies persist, including high rates of anemia (45% women, 26% men) and Vitamin D deficiency (~80%), impacting overall well-being.

The path forward

Sangita Reddy, joint managing director told Moneycontrol that Apollo group is strongly advocating for a paradigm shift towards proactive, personalized healthcare. Its ProHealth program, utilizing AI-powered risk scores and behavioral nudging, demonstrates promising results: 59% of diabetic participants reduced HbA1C levels, 51% lowered blood pressure, and 47% achieved weight loss. "These are heartening things... if you do the right steps you can overcome the problem," Reddy added.

The data pool reveals a dramatic 150% increase in the uptake of preventive checks over the five-year period, signalling growing public awareness.

The Health of the Nation 2025 report concludes with a strong call to embed preventive strategies within national health policy, insurance frameworks, and workplace wellness programs, focusing on early risk identification and empowering individuals through lifestyle modification.