Urban India battles hidden metabolic health crisis

Source: The post Urban India battles hidden metabolic health crisis has been created, based on the article “India’s new urban worry — rising overnutrition” published in “The Hindu” on 28 May 2025. Urban India battles hidden metabolic health crisis

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context: A recent Nature article revealed a striking prevalence of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) among IT workers in Hyderabad, with 84% affected. This highlights a broader public health crisis fueled by chronic stress, unhealthy eating habits, disrupted sleep, and sedentary lifestyles prevalent in India’s rapidly urbanizing technology sector.

For detailed information on Preventive Healthcare in India read this article here

Urban Health Crisis in India

1. Double Burden of Malnutrition: India faces simultaneous challenges of undernutrition and overnutrition. Globally, it ranked second in obesity prevalence in 2021. Urban IT hubs especially reflect this issue, creating a silent metabolic crisis. India’s paradoxical nutrition scenario partly explains its poor Global Hunger Index ranking.
2. Prevalence of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs): WHO’s 2024 report warns that NCDs caused 74% of global deaths in 2019, disproportionately affecting India and other middle-income countries. Economic productivity suffers, with South-East Asia unlikely to achieve 2030 SDG targets for reducing NCD-related deaths.
3. Health Data Insights from Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu’s 2023-24 STEPS Survey shows 65% of deaths in Chennai due to NCDs. Blood pressure control remains low among hypertensive patients (16%), worse among young adults (9.3%). Only 9.8% of young diabetics achieve glycemic control. Overweight and obesity prevalence stands at 31.6% and 14.2%, respectively.

Growing Obesity Trends

1. Age and Economic Disparities: Obesity rises with age, from 7% in younger males (15-19 years) to 32% in middle-aged men (40-49 years). Wealth significantly impacts obesity rates, from 10% in lower-income groups to 37% in higher-income ones, reflecting a broad demographic crisis rather than a confined occupational hazard.
2. Gender and Urban-Rural Divide: Waist-to-hip ratio, another critical marker, worsens with age: 46% to 65% in women and 28% to 60% in men (ages 15-49). Tamil Nadu urban areas have higher overweight and obesity rates (46.1% men, 43.1% women) than rural regions (35.4% men, 31.6% women).
3. Youth Vulnerability and Future Predictions: India’s working-age population (18-59) faces heightened NCD risks. A Lancet 2025 study projects India’s overweight adult population to reach 450 million by 2050. Childhood obesity surged by 244% over three decades and may rise an additional 121% in the next three.

Regulatory Actions and Challenges

1. Role of Regulators and Industry: Awareness alone is insufficient; regulatory intervention is crucial. Despite consumer knowledge increasing, unhealthy ultra-processed food dominates markets. FSSAI’s “Eat Right India” initiative promotes healthier eating but faces implementation challenges.
2. Efforts in Food Labelling and Standards: FSSAI proposed the Health Star Rating (HSR) for clearer nutritional information, sparking debates on effectiveness. The Supreme Court requested technical guidance on labelling norms. Effective regulation demands stricter enforcement and broader multisectoral efforts.
3. Comprehensive Health Policy: Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 successfully integrates NCD prevention into national policies, enforcing calorie labelling, imposing taxes on sugary drinks and energy drinks, and limiting sodium in processed foods. This cohesive approach has significantly improved public health outcomes.

Urban Lifestyle and Public Health Risks

1. Rise of Unhealthy Eating Habits: Cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai are economic hubs driven by IT sectors. Flexible work hours fuel the demand for nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods from late-night eateries and cloud kitchens, exacerbating nutritional health risks.
2. Need for Regulatory Reforms: Reversing the growing burden of NCDs requires urgent regulatory reforms in the food industry. Introducing taxes on unhealthy foods high in sugar and salt could be a significant and effective health-promoting measure.

Question for practice:

Examine how urban lifestyles and regulatory gaps contribute to the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in India.