For decades, chronic conditions such as heart diseases, diabetes and hypertension were primarily associated with older people. More recently, individuals in their 20s and 30s have fallen prey to these ailments. This shift is being driven by lifestyle diseases or non-communicable diseases, contributing majorly to the health crisis for the modern youth. According to a 2025 pan-India health survey taken from the Apollo Health of the Nation 2026 report by Apollo Hospitals, metabolic and endocrine ailments in young populations have nearly doubled over the decade.
What are the various lifestyle diseases?
Lifestyle diseases are conditions resulting from a person’s daily habits, including diet, physical activity, and work environment. They are not contracted from other infectious diseases but are developed over time due to behavioural factors. The most noted among these include Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), Hypertension (high blood pressure) and Obesity.
The global data, as noted in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, shows that the prevalence of diabetes has reached alarming levels, with 537 million adults (1 in 10) currently living with the condition, a number expected to rise to 783 million by 2045.
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Moreover, the definition has been expanded to cover Mental Health Disorders, including chronic anxiety and depression, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in females, both of which have strong links to metabolic and hormonal balance.
Why 20s and 30s?
The modern-day epidemic among youth is caused by four main reasons:
*Sedentary living: The average young adult engages in work that involves the use of screens and sits for over six hours per day. This has proven to reduce the rate of metabolism, which leads to the body failing to eliminate fats from the bloodstream.
*Transition in nutrition: From eating whole foods rich in fibre to consuming Ultra-Processed Food (UPF), the youth today are at risk of suffering from gut damage, leading to body-wide inflammation and eventually organ damage.*
*Environmental factors: The rapid growth of urban areas has diminished the availability of green spaces such as parks and gardens for refreshment and recreation. Moreover, the increase in pollution and the exposure to blue light affect the biological rhythms, interfering with the natural healing process of the body.
*Stress & lack of sleep: The pressures of working at a faster pace lead to an elevation in cortisol hormone levels constantly. Not only does this bring about various stress-related problems, but it also impacts the hormone secretion required for proper sexual functioning and metabolic health. These deficiencies lead to obesity and decreased sexual desire in men and women alike.
How to prevent lifestyle dieases hitting at a young age
In the early stages, lifestyle diseases are largely preventable and often reversible. Prevention is about consistent, small behavioural shifts:
*Focus on whole foods: Increasing fibre intake (vegetables, legumes, seeds) acts as a fuel for good gut bacteria, which in turn lowers inflammation and improves insulin sensitivity.
*Move at regular intervals: Adhering to international guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week; breaking up long periods of sitting with 5-minute walks every hour, wakes up the metabolic enzymes.
*Prioritise rest: While sleeping, the body goes through a process of repair. One should strive for at least 7 to 8 hours of good-quality sleep each night so that the brain can eliminate waste products from the body and the endocrine system can reset levels of testosterone and growth hormones.
*Screening proactively: Proactive scheduling of regular checkups of blood pressure, HbA1C (blood sugar), and cholesterol levels to discover potential problems before they turn into disease.
As a result of our society being both fast-paced and sedentary, young adults are developing chronic diseases in large numbers, which necessitates immediate change. Rectifying daily routines, such as eating habits, exercising regularly and relaxing, will enable a strong health foundation to be built in the 20s and 30s instead of having lifelong health problems.
Dr Rajmadhangi D. is an internal medicine specialist at Apollo Spectra Hospital, Alwarpet, Chennai.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
