India Faces Rising Burden of Metabolic Diseases Study
Why in the News ?
A recent analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 1990–2023, published in the journal Metabolism, shows that India and China carry the highest metabolic disease burden in the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting the urgent need for stronger public health prevention strategies.
Rising Metabolic Disease Burden in India:
- According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, India and China account for the largest share of metabolic disease burden in the Asia-Pacific region.
- In 2023, India recorded nearly 21 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and around 5.8 lakh deaths due to Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- High systolic blood pressure contributed to approximately 3.8 crore DALYs and about 15.7 lakh deaths in the country.
- Other major risk factors such as high Body Mass Index (BMI), elevated LDL cholesterol, and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) are also rising steadily.
- India has now surpassed China in DALYs related to metabolic diseases, indicating a growing public health challenge linked to lifestyle and demographic transitions.
Key Causes and Policy Concerns
- Metabolic diseases occur when the body’s ability to process, store, or use energy from food becomes impaired.
- Rapid urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and increased consumption of ultra-processed foods are major drivers.
- Experts recommend integrated prevention strategies, including promoting balanced diets and healthier food environments.
- Policies such as front-of-pack nutrition labelling, limiting excess sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, and regulating ultra-processed foods are being suggested.
- Urban planning reforms such as safe walking spaces, cycling tracks, and workplace or school-based physical activity programmes are also necessary to improve public health outcomes.
| About Metabolic Diseases and DALYs :● Metabolic Diseases: A group of disorders affecting metabolism, the process by which the body converts food into energy for growth and survival. ● Common Conditions: Include Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol, and fatty liver disease. ● Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs): A measure used in public health combining years of life lost due to premature death and years lived with disability. ● Risk Factors: Major contributors include sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, obesity, tobacco use, and genetic predisposition. ● Public Health Importance: Rising metabolic diseases increase the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for a significant share of global mortality and healthcare costs. |