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.