Hans News Service Visakhapatnam

Accordingto the sixth edition of Apollo Hospitals’ Health of the Nation (HoN) 2026 report, India’s most common health risks are appearing earlier and remaining hidden longer. Based on over three million preventive health assessments conducted across the Apollo ecosystem, the report makes a compelling case for proactive healthcare. As per the data, one in five people under 30 were prediabetic. More than half were obese, and more than half had abnormal cholesterol. Nearly 7 in 10 were deficient in Vitamin D, and close to half had low Vitamin B12.

Early screening by Apollo Shine Foundation across 20,164 students (aged 17–25) found that two in three had at least one underlying health risk. Among working populations, eight in 10 were overweight. Nearly half had prediabetes or diabetes, while one in four had high blood pressure. These findings indicate that risk factors are already present across younger and working populations, often before they are clinically recognised.

Prathap C Reddy, founder chairman of the Apollo Hospitals Group, mentioned: “The true strength of a nation depends on the well-being of its people. For too long, health checks were viewed as routine blood tests and vitals merely a reactive response driven by fear. Health risks are already present in young and working populations, even before symptoms appear.” However, doctors stressed that follow-up, continued monitoring and action yield improved outcomes.