In today’s fast-evolving world, India is already battling major health concerns like diabetes, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Although the country’s disease burden is largely caused by environmental factors like air pollution, population size, and unequal access to healthcare, a new, silent threat is emerging that could redefine workplace health risks, especially for IT professionals.
A recent study conducted by the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and the University of Hyderabad revealed a shocking fact: 84 per cent of IT professionals in urban centres suffer from Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD). This isn’t just another lifestyle-related condition—it’s a ticking time bomb that could lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, or even organ failure if left unchecked.
IT workers have long put company goals and project deadlines ahead of their personal well-being. They are especially susceptible to metabolic problems because of their unrelenting work culture, which is characterised by long hours and sedentary lives. In contrast to other medical conditions that exhibit symptoms right away, MAFLD develops subtly and is frequently discovered only after it has progressed to a point where it might cause cirrhosis, liver failure, or even cancer. By the time most realise the severity of their condition, medical intervention is not just urgent but also extremely expensive.
A moderate case of MAFLD could be reversed through exercise, dietary changes, and stress management, severe cases can persist for several years, disrupting careers and personal finances. A middle-class family’s entire savings could be wiped out by the Rs20–25 lakh cost of a liver transplant. A single medical emergency could bankrupt a household due to the exponential rise in healthcare expenditures. Instead of asking if someone can afford health insurance, the query now asks if they can afford not to have it.
