- Practo reports an 84% YoY increase in lifestyle disease awareness.
- Young adults (25–34) and Tier 2 cities lead the shift in health concerns.
- Diabetes and hypertension consultations are rising steadily across age groups.
India is witnessing a significant shift in healthcare behavior, with data from Practo showing an 84% year-on-year rise in awareness of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Interestingly, the growth is not limited to metropolitan areas. Tier 2 cities saw a 20% increase in lifestyle disease awareness, while regions beyond Tier 1 and Tier 2 recorded the highest growth in diabetes-related consultations at 37%.
Health in Transition: How India Is Tackling Lifestyle Diseases Head-On
The rise in lifestyle disease consultations reflects a broader transformation in India’s health priorities. Hypertension consultations increased to 5.1 times per patient in 2024, up from 4.9 in the previous year. The data also highlights that men aged 35–44 are seeking hypertension care more frequently than any other group, with an average of 5.5 consultations annually.
Diabetes management is seeing similar momentum. The frequency of diabetology consultations rose to 3.9 in 2024, marking a clear uptick from 3.4 in 2023. Searches related to diabetes increased by nearly 14%, with the most significant spike—92.59%—among young males aged 18–24, indicating early awareness and prevention.
This heightened attention to lifestyle health issues is especially notable in semi-urban and emerging regions. Tier 2 cities are not only catching up but surpassing metropolitan areas in terms of growth. These shifts suggest that healthcare access and digital health platforms are playing a crucial role in bridging health gaps in non-metro India.
What stands out is the gender-specific rise in health awareness. While older men are driving hypertension consultations, middle-aged women are significantly contributing to the spike in online health queries. This balanced participation suggests a nationwide cultural shift toward prioritizing health regardless of age or gender.
India’s growing focus on managing lifestyle diseases signals a crucial turn in public health consciousness, bridging gaps across cities, age groups, and genders.
“Awareness is the first step toward change. If there’s a shift in the way people think about health, it will change everything.” – Deepak Chopra
