A staggering "silent epidemic" of lifestyle diseases is sweeping India, warns the fifth edition of Apollo Hospitals’ Health of the Nation 2025 (HoN) report, released Monday.

Drawing from over 2.5 million health screenings, the report exposes a nation grappling with diabetes, hypertension, and fatty liver disease, urging a seismic shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.

The findings are alarming: 65% of those screened had fatty liver (85% non-alcoholic), 26% were hypertensive, and 23% diabetic—many oblivious to their conditions until tested. “Don’t wait for symptoms—make preventive health your priority,” the report implores, spotlighting fatty liver, post-menopausal health decline, and childhood obesity as ticking time bombs. It calls for early, data-driven interventions to stem the tide.

Apollo Chairman Dr. Prathap Reddy emphasized, “Preventive healthcare is the cornerstone of a nation’s well-being today,” advocating its integration into schools, workplaces, and homes.

The report reveals stark trends: among post-menopausal women, diabetes spiked from 14% to 40%, obesity from 76% to 86%, and fatty liver from 54% to 70%. Meanwhile, one in three college students screened was overweight or obese, with 19% pre-hypertensive—proof that lifestyle diseases are striking younger.

Mental health and sleep disorders also loom large. Of 47,000 screened, 6% showed clinical depression, peaking among middle-aged adults, while 25% faced high risk of obstructive sleep apnea, linked to heart disease and fatigue. Vitamin D deficiency plagued 77% of women and 82% of men, and 46% of asymptomatic individuals showed early heart disease signs.

“This is about health empowerment,” said Dr. Suneeta Reddy, Apollo’s Managing Director. As India teeters on the edge of a health crisis, the report demands a national wake-up call to prioritize prevention over cure.