Rising Heart Disease Risks Among Indian Youth Heart disease used to be commonly linked with elderly individuals, but that is no longer true. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a troubling rise in young people - those in their 20s and 30s - developing risk factors like obesity and diabetes, both of which significantly increase the chances of heart disease. What used to be a concern for later in life is now hitting earlier, and we must figure out why this is happening and what can be done to prevent it.
The Prevalence of Obesity and Diabetes in the Youngsters Recent studies have revealed a startling increase in the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes among younger individuals. A study conducted in southern India found that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes increased from 4.5% to 7.
8% in those aged 20-39 years over a 10-year period, a 36% rise. The prevalence increased by only 11% in older individuals aged 40 and above. Globally, the situation is equally concerning.
The World Obesity Federation estimates that in 2024, there are nearly 159 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 years living with obesity. This represents a significant increase from 1975, when only 4% of children and adolescents were overweight or obese, compared to nearly 20% in 2022. The Link Between Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
There is a strong link between higher body mass index (BMI) and the development of h.