Union Health Minister JP Nadda recently addressed the issue, stating that 84 percent of IT professionals in Hyderabad show signs of fatty liver disease.
Published Aug 05, 2025 | 9:23 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 05, 2025 | 9:23 AM
Synopsis: A recent study found that the majority of Hyderabad’s Information Technology (IT) workforce is classified as obese. The high obesity rate has contributed to a sharp rise in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease.
A recent study found a serious health issue affecting Hyderabad’s Information Technology (IT) workforce; 70.72 percent of IT employees are classified as obese, based on Asian Body Mass Index (BMI) standards.
The research, published in Nature Scientific Reports in 2025, highlights the growing health burden in one of India’s key IT hubs.
Conducted by researchers from the University of Hyderabad and the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, the study surveyed 345 IT employees aged 30 to 60 between July 2023 and July 2024. Using the Asian cut-off for obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²), 244 participants were found to be obese. An additional 14.49 percent were overweight.
A large proportion of employees (71.88%) sit for long hours, exceeding eight hours per day. This sedentary behaviour, along with physical inactivity (<150 min/week), was associated with MAFLD and obesity.
The high obesity rate has contributed to a sharp rise in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), found in 84.06 percent of the participants. Liver fat accumulation was observed in 290 of the 345 employees.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda recently addressed the issue, stating that 84 percent of IT professionals in Hyderabad show signs of fatty liver disease.
“The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued operational guidelines for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. These include advice on diet, physical activity, weight control, and limiting sugar and saturated fat intake. States and Union Territories have been asked to conduct screening and risk assessments, and ensure appropriate referrals,” Nadda said in Parliament.
The prevalence among IT workers is significantly higher than in the general Indian population, with various studies estimating MAFLD rates between nine percent and 56.4 percent.
The study found varying levels of liver fat accumulation: 20.29 percent had mild (Grade S1) steatosis, 29.86 percent had moderate (Grade S2), and 33.91 percent had severe (Grade S3). Most participants (97.39 percent) had no or mild fibrosis (F0 and F1), with only 2.32 percent showing moderate (F2) and 0.29 percent severe (F3) fibrosis. This suggests there is still a window for early intervention.
The study revealed a significant disparity in MAFLD prevalence between genders: 73.91 percent in men, compared to 10.14 percent in women. MAFLD was also more common among younger employees: 50.14 percent in the 30–40 age group, and 33.91 percent in the 41–60 group.
Notably, 5.80 percent of participants (20 employees) had a BMI below 23 kg/m² but still had MAFLD — a condition known as lean MAFLD, often linked to metabolic syndrome.
The study identifies the work culture in the IT sector as a key driver of the poor health outcomes observed. The sedentary nature of the work was a significant factor, with 71.88 percent of employees sitting for more than eight hours a day. This prolonged sitting was closely linked to obesity, overweight, and the development of MAFLD.
A lack of physical activity worsened the issue. Over one in five participants (22.61 percent) engaged in less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. The study found clear links between physical inactivity and both MAFLD and obesity.
Unhealthy eating habits were widespread. Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) was significantly associated with MAFLD, with 28.41 percent of employees regularly consuming them. A further 36.52 percent reported high-sugar diets, and 38.84 percent consumed diets low in fibre.
Other concerning patterns included high-fat diets (26.38 percent) and high-salt diets (11.88 percent). Both SSB intake and low-fibre diets were directly linked to the development of MAFLD.
Sleep deprivation was another major issue. About 69.86 percent of participants reported getting less than seven hours of sleep per day. This was associated with low HDL-C (“good” cholesterol) levels. Work-related stress was reported by 37.97 percent, and 25.80 percent of participants reported shift work — a factor linked to raised fasting blood glucose, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and BMI.
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) was found in 34.20 percent (118 employees), a figure in line with earlier studies in South India. High waist circumference, BMI, blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol levels were the main contributors.
High waist circumference — a marker of abdominal obesity — affected 85.80 percent of participants and showed a strong link with MAFLD (correlation coefficient 0.66). High LDL-C (≥100 mg/dL) was observed in 76.52 percent of participants.
Elevated blood pressure affected 37.83 percent of employees, while 35.07 percent had low HDL-C levels. An elevated Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) ratio, indicating insulin resistance, was observed in 52.17 percent of participants. Elevated fasting blood glucose was present in 20.87 percent of the study population.
Smoking was identified as another risk factor linked to MAFLD. The study found strong correlations between MAFLD and several metabolic indicators, including higher BMI, waist circumference, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting blood glucose, and blood pressure.
Additional associations were found between MAFLD and waist-to-hip ratio, fasting insulin, triglyceride levels, and liver enzymes such as Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST).
The 84.06 percent MAFLD rate among Hyderabad’s IT professionals is much higher than rates seen in the general Indian population. A systematic review found an average prevalence of 38.6 percent, while a large study in Delhi showed 56.4 percent.
In Goa, the prevalence was 34.8 percent, while data from Telangana showed 20 percent in rural and 25 percent in urban areas. Earlier studies placed MAFLD rates in India between 9 and 32 percent. An ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) study in rural Jaipur reported a rate of 37.19 percent.
Nadda outlined the government’s response to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including MAFLD, emphasising efforts across several ministries.
“The preventive aspect of NCDs is being addressed through Comprehensive Primary Health Care under the Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative, promoting wellness and community-level health awareness,” said Nadda.
He added that states and union territories receive financial support through the National Health Mission for awareness and health promotion activities related to NCDs. Specific messages about fatty liver disease are being shared via Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and public campaigns under the National Programme for Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also run awareness campaigns on social media platforms to highlight liver health. These included videos, reels, and graphics to reach and engage a wide audience.
Nadda said the response goes beyond the health ministry. “The Fit India movement, implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and Yoga-related initiatives by the Ministry of AYUSH are examples of cross-ministry collaboration.”
One such initiative is the “Y-Break” — a five-minute workplace yoga protocol developed by the Ministry of AYUSH to help professionals reduce stress and refocus. The routine includes basic yoga postures (asana), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana), designed by experts and tested for workplace use.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
