What is Metabolic Syndrome? Why Hyderabad techies are at risk of developing such disorder?

Hyderabad: A recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) conducted in the Information Technology (IT) workplaces of various operational sizes in the IT hub Hyderabad has shed light on the concerning health and lifestyle trends among the employees.

It has also called for the inclusion of nutrition, physical activity, and stress management in workplace wellness programs.

The study revealed that about half the participants had Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), which could lead to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.

What is Metabolic Syndrome (MetS)?

MetS is defined as the presence of three or more of the five important risk factors -

Waist Circumference (WC) of equal to or over 90 cm in men and 80 cm in women, Triglycerides (TG) levels of equal or more than 150 mg/dL, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) level of more than 40 mg/dL in males and over 50mg/dl in females, Blood Pressure (BP) of equal or more than 130/85 mmHg and Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG level) of equal or more than 100 mg/dL.

Findings from the study

The study was conducted on about 183 IT employees from various operational sizes (large, medium, and small) and was published in the international peer-reviewed journal ‘Nutrients’ in August 2023. The median age of the employees was 30 years. The study revealed that nearly 46% of participants had at least three or more of the metabolic risk factors including low HDL level, high waist circumference along with elevated levels of certain biomarkers (a natural molecule, gene, or trait to identify a disease) linked to higher risk of developing NCDs. The study also reported the average sitting time of these employees was more than eight hours on a regular working day. Only 22% of employees reached the recommended intentional physical activity duration of at least 150 minutes per week.

Despite the study’s limited sample size, the findings that nearly a third of participants had MetS underscores the necessity for targeted nutrition-based Workplace Wellness Programmes to enhance the well-being of this crucial workforce.

‘IT professionals more susceptible to MetS due to their workstyle & lifestyle’

Director of ICMR-NIN Dr R Hemalatha, said, “Concerns have been rising about the health and wellness of the employees of the IT sector that contributes extensively to the nation’s development. Globally studies indicate that their sedentary work style, unhealthy dietary habits, and stressful work schedules contribute to increased metabolic risk. Many of the workers, mainly aged 26 to 35, face these risks for extended periods, which trigger chronic, low-level inflammation. Consequently, they become more susceptible to MetS and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).”

Faulty dietary habits add to the risk factors

“Dietary risk factors like frequently eating out, low consumption of fruits and vegetables in daily diet, skipping meals, etc were frequently reported among the employees. Perceived stress scores were higher among the senior employees above 30 years of age and a significant proportion of them had MetS. Although the employees with MetS were older than those without MetS, the lifestyle risk factors associated with NCDs were seen even among younger employees of less than 30 years of age,” said Dr. Subba Rao M Gavaravarapu, Scientist F and lead investigator of the project.

Research calls for nutrition-based Workplace Wellness Programmes

The research paper draws from the doctoral work of the research scholar Paromita Banerjee, which is a part of the larger study conducted by a multi-disciplinary research team led by Dr. SubbaRao M Gavaravarpu and Dr. Bhanuprakash Reddy. The study team has set out to design and evaluate a flexible, multi-component, strategic model of nutrition-based workplace intervention as a preventive and promotive approach to tackle the rising concern of NCDs.