1 in 3 Indians at Risk of Heart Disease, Obesity, and Diabetes: ekincare’s India’s Silent Health Crisis Report
ekincare, India’s leading digital health benefits platform, today released India’s Silent Health Crisis, a full National Risk Assessment for 2023–2025 based on data from over 4 lakh health check-ups. The results show that more than a third of Indians are showing early signs of lifestyle and metabolic health risks, such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
The findings highlight a growing shift in India’s health landscape, where risk factors are rising silently before clinical symptoms appear, underscoring the urgent need for preventive healthcare.
Key findings: Early risk is widespread
• Over 36% of Indians are vitamin deficient, indicating widespread nutritional gaps
• 1 in 3 individuals show obesity markers, pointing to rising lifestyle-related risks
• 31.7% show abnormal cholesterol levels, signalling increased cardiovascular risk
• Nearly 1 in 3 individuals is at risk of diabetes, based on early markers such as HbA1c and fasting blood sugar
• Iron deficiency impacts 16.4%, while blood pressure, liver, and thyroid risks continue to rise steadily
The report says that vitamin deficiency, obesity, and cardiovascular markers are critical because they affect more than 30% of the population. This means that screening and intervention are needed right away.
Commenting on the findings, Kiran Kalakuntla, CEO & Co-founder of ekincare, said, “When we look at this data, what strikes us is not just the numbers, but what they mean. Millions of people are going about their lives without realising that their bodies are already sending out warning signs. One in three people don’t get enough vitamins, cholesterol levels are crossing dangerous levels, and the risk of diabetes is slowly rising. These are not numbers from a hospital. These people are fine right now. This is what makes it a silent crisis. We at ekincare have always thought that the best time to help someone is before they become a patient. This report serves as a reminder that preventive healthcare is not a privilege but an obligation. For employers, for those who make laws, and for all of us “
Regional disparities highlight hidden hotspots
The report also reveals significant regional variation in health risks across India:
• Vitamin deficiency is most severe in Rajasthan (43.9%), followed by Karnataka (39.9%) and Gujarat (39.9%)
• Andhra Pradesh (56.9%) and Odisha (42.5%) emerge as the biggest diabetes risk hotspots in the country
• Haryana (34.9%) and Karnataka (33.7%) record the highest cholesterol and cardiovascular risk levels
The results show that preventive healthcare is no longer just a good thing for businesses; it is now a national necessity. As India deals with more lifestyle diseases, early detection, regular screenings, and ongoing health monitoring will be key to making the population healthier and stronger.
