Every third person in Indore suffers from vitamin D deficiency:Study of 9,000 residents flags work-from-home, AC lifestyle as key causes

Vitamin D deficiency is emerging as a serious public health concern in Indore, with nearly 37% of the city’s population found to be deficient, according to an annual health study conducted by Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. The study analysed health data of more than 9,000 people, including 3,454 women and 5,964 men, divided into two age groups—below 45 years and 45 years or above. The findings reveal that 36.3% of men and 37.3% of women were suffering from vitamin D deficiency, with the problem most pronounced among older adults. Changing lifestyle blamed for deficiency Doctors attribute the alarming trend largely to changing lifestyles, especially the rise of work-from-home culture, prolonged screen time, and spending long hours in air-conditioned indoor environments, which limit exposure to natural sunlight. Consultant Quality Chief Dr Gaurav Shailgaonkar said the human body is designed to function in open environments.
“Earlier, people were engaged in farming, labour and outdoor activities. Today, a majority work in corporate offices or cabins. Continuous stay indoors and exposure to artificial environments are causing vitamin D levels to drop sharply,” he explained. Children also at risk Doctors warned that the issue is no longer restricted to adults. Increasing screen time, mobile gaming and social media use have reduced outdoor play among children, leading to rising cases of vitamin D deficiency even in younger age groups. Impact on bones and mental health Vitamin D plays a crucial role in transporting calcium to bones. Its deficiency can weaken bones, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Experts also link low vitamin D levels to hair fall, fatigue, irritability and depression. The impact can be particularly severe for post-menopausal women, as calcium requirements increase with age, doctors said. Sunlight and diet key to prevention Doctors recommend 15–20 minutes of natural morning sunlight daily as the best source of vitamin D. However, with modern indoor lifestyles, this is often difficult to achieve. In such cases, a balanced diet becomes essential. Doctors advise regular but limited consumption of millets, tofu, milk, cheese and other calcium-rich foods, along with medical supervision. Testing and treatment advised Health experts stress the importance of regular vitamin D testing. If levels are low, supplements should be taken only on medical advice, warning against self-medication. “Medicines alone are not enough. Long-term improvement requires lifestyle changes—more outdoor activity and reduced screen time,” doctors said, cautioning that untreated deficiency could lead to serious bone and mental health issues in the coming years. Other key findings from the health study The annual health study also flagged several other worrying trends beyond vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency emerged as a significant concern, affecting 13.6% of men and 9.3% of women, with cases more commonly reported among older adults. Anaemia continued to show a clear gender gap, with mild to moderate anaemia detected in 10% of women compared to 1.9% of men, while severe anaemia was found in 0.6% of women and 0.3% of men, indicating that women remain more vulnerable across all categories. Metabolic disorders were another major red flag. Pre-diabetes was recorded in 30.9% of men and 29% of women, while diabetes affected 16.2% of men and 12.2% of women, with both conditions largely concentrated in older age groups. Doctors pointed out that pre-diabetes is particularly alarming but reversible, stressing that timely awareness, dietary control and lifestyle changes can prevent progression to full-blown diabetes. Kidney health indicators also showed abnormalities, with elevated creatinine levels observed in 1.9% of men and 0.8% of women, a problem seen more frequently among the elderly. Thyroid disorders were found to be significantly higher in women, especially those above 45 years of age. Hypothyroidism affected 12.5% of women compared to 6.9% of men, while hyperthyroidism remained relatively rare, seen in just 0.62% of women and 0.12% of men. Doctors said these findings underline the growing burden of lifestyle-related and age-linked diseases, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and preventive care. Focus on better patient care Hospital Executive Director Dr Santosh Shetty said improving patient care remains a top priority. Vice President Sunil Mehta added that health cards prepared from patient data help identify conditions such as anaemia, pre-diabetes, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, eosinophilia, vitamin D and B12 deficiencies, and prostate-related problems. Experts warn that without timely lifestyle changes, Indore could see a sharp rise in bone, metabolic and mental health disorders in the coming years.