Hyderabad: A recent study has revealed a staggering 80% of IT employees in Hyderabad’s Hitech City are overweight, highlighting a growing health crisis in the city’s tech sector. The findings were shared during the hospital’s “Break The Weight” program on World Obesity Day, where Dr. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman of AIG Hospital, emphasized the severe health implications of obesity.
Dr. Reddy warned that obesity is now linked to almost every major disease and is no longer a minor issue. He pointed out that the situation in India is far more serious than previously thought. The most concerning trend is the early onset of cardiovascular diseases among Hyderabad’s IT professionals.
Dr. Rajiv Menon, Head of Cardiology at AIG Hospital, noted that heart attacks are occurring two decades earlier than expected. In the West, heart diseases manifest much later, but in Hyderabad’s IT sector, individuals in their 20s are now suffering from heart attacks due to obesity.
Hyderabad is also on its way to becoming the diabetes capital of India, mirroring India’s global status as the diabetes capital of the world. The findings align with data showing that 32% of men and 30% of women in Telangana aged 15 to 49 are overweight or obese—figures higher than the national average.
Beyond cardiovascular risks, obesity is taking a toll on multiple aspects of health. Dr. P. Nagaraja Rao, Chief of Hepatology, noted a rise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), even among those who have never consumed alcohol. Many advanced liver disease patients have been overweight for years, leading to fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver, which can even result in liver cancer.
Senior consultant gynecologist Dr. Shraddha Ramchandani linked obesity to polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and infertility. Excess fat leads to hormonal imbalances, affecting ovulation and increasing miscarriage risk.
Pulmonologist Dr. Vishwanath Gella highlighted how obesity weakens immune function, increasing vulnerability to pneumonia and influenza. Meanwhile, ENT expert Dr. Srinivas Kishore Sistla pointed out the connection between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where fat accumulation around the neck restricts airflow during sleep, leading to poor sleep quality and heightened health risks.
