Archive · 14 Nov 2025
Diabetes Prevalence Hits 17% in India, Gen Z Wellness Declines Sharply
Imagine a report about how healthy people in India are.
It found that a lot of people, 17 out of every 100, have something called diabetes, which is a serious sickness.
This is a big problem, almost as common as stress or sore joints.
The report also noticed that young people, called Gen Z, are not as healthy as they used to be.
They are feeling more tired and stressed, and not exercising or eating as well.
Older groups like Gen X and some women are doing better, though.
Many people, especially those who work in offices, feel very tired and stressed, and it's hard for them to eat healthy food even if they try.
The report studied thousands of people in cities to understand all of this.
A new report reveals that 17% of Indians have diabetes, making it a significant health concern.
The study highlights a sharp decline in the physical, mental, and social wellness of Gen Z in India.
High daily stress (affecting 1 in 3 people) and constant tiredness (reported by 41%) are prevalent issues in Indian cities.
Corporate employees, particularly women and younger professionals, face declining physical wellness and work-life balance challenges.
Despite acknowledging the need for a balanced diet, many Indians struggle to reduce sugar, salt, or fat intake due to time, motivation, or awareness issues.
- Who
- ICICI Lombard (through their India Wellness Index study 2025)
- What
- Released a report highlighting 17% diabetes prevalence in India, a sharp decline in Gen Z wellness, and high stress/fatigue levels across urban populations. The report also noted poor mental health among millennials and corporate employees and challenges in maintaining a healthy diet.
- When
- On World Diabetes Day 2025 (November 14)
- Where
- India (specifically 19 key urban centers, metros, and Tier I cities)
- Why
- To assess the current wellness landscape in India, identify key health concerns such as rising diabetes prevalence and declining youth wellness, and highlight the impact of lifestyle factors like stress, diet, and sedentary habits.
Gen Z Wellness Concerns
Improvements in Other Demographics
Overall Wellness Trends
Gen Z Wellness Concerns
Gen Z shows a concerning decline across all wellness pillars: physical, mental, financial, workplace, and social, with Tier-1 Gen Zs being the most vulnerable.
Improvements in Other Demographics
Gen X and women demonstrated improvements in physical fitness, financial literacy, and workplace balance, while millennials showed a rebound driven by better financial planning and insurance adoption.
Mental Health Vulnerability
Gen Z Wellness Concerns
Young Indians, particularly millennials and corporate women, report an average of 1.3 depression symptoms, with fatigue and hopelessness being common indicators.
Improvements in Other Demographics
Gen X and residents of Tier-1 towns appeared least affected by poor mental health trends.
- World Diabetes Day
- November 14
- Diabetes Prevalence in India
- 17% of Indians
- Top Ailments in India (after Stress, Joint Pain, High BP)
- Diabetes
- Study Name
- ICICI Lombard's 8th edition of India Wellness Index study 2025
- Respondents Sample
- 2,000 respondents across 19 key urban centers in India
- High Daily Stress Reported
- 1 in 3 people
- Constant Tiredness Reported
- 41% of people
- Wellness Score (Indians without Heart/Diabetes conditions)
- 79
- Wellness Score (Indians with Heart/Diabetes conditions)
- 70
Sources
India’s Diabetes Crisis Deepens: Experts Warn of Growing Risk Among Women Across Life Stages
World Diabetes Day: India’s youth face a silent epidemic as poor diets fuel rising cases
World Diabetes Day: Early Detection Can Save Limbs and Live
