Fatty Liver Crisis Among Hyderabad IT Workers: JP Nadda Flags 84% Affected | Deets Inside
Fatty Liver Crisis Among Hyderabad IT Workers: JP Nadda Flags 84% Affected | Deets Inside
Union Health Minister JP Nadda reveals a shocking health crisis among Hyderabad's IT workforce: 84% show signs of fatty liver disease. Learn about the causes, risks, and urgent need for lifestyle changes.
Written By:
Muskan Gupta
| Published : August 5, 2025 3:40 PM IST
Union Health Minister JP Nadda made a shocking claim on August 1, 2025, in the Lok Sabha when he said, "84 per cent of the IT professionals surveyed in Hyderabad have increased fatty liver, a key indicator of Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)." He termed this a "silent epidemic", shrinking the well-being and productivity of a city's fast-paced tech workforce.
The Study Findings
These are some of the shocking facts that come from a 2025 study with 345 IT professionals from Hyderabad and released in Nature Scientific Reports:
290 employees (84.06%) demonstrated increased liver fat consistent with MAFLD.
71% were clinically obese.
34.2% (118 individuals) were with metabolic syndrome a cluster of risk factors including high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and elevated cholesterol.
Why Is Hyderabad's IT Crowd Especially Vulnerable?
As reported by experts, the following occupational practices and lifestyle habits justify the existence of MAFLD with such high prevalence:
Sedentary work culture: physically inactive professions that require long periods of sitting at a desk and no movement.
Diets: reliance on processed foods, consumption of sugary beverages, and a low-fibre diet.
Chronic stress from work and lack of sleep.
Collectively, these factors contribute towards several lifestyle-related diseases, fat deposition in the liver, obesity, and metabolic syndrome.
What Exactly Is MAFLD?
MAFLD (Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease) represents an excessive fat accumulation in the liver ( 5%) of a person due to metabolic risk factors such as obesity, insulin resistance, or diabetes, and not due to alcohol consumption. If left untreated, the condition may progress to steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, or even liver cancer.
Causes of MAFLD
MAFLD is closely associated with metabolic syndrome as well as with a person's habitual lifestyle. Other contributory factors include:
Obesity: Abdominal or central obesity is considered a predominant risk factor. MAFLD can also affect lean people with high visceral fat.
Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes: These conditions will foster fat buildup in liver cells due to reduced insulin action.
High Blood Lipids: Elevated triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol.
Poor Diet: High consumption of sugar, processed food, saturated fats, and highly refined carbohydrates. Low consumption of fibre and foods rich in antioxidants.
Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of exercise will promote fat accumulation and inflammation.
Genetics: A particular family history or some gene variants, such as PNPLA3, can increase the risk of susceptibility.
Symptoms of MAFLD
MAFLD is additionally perilous because it can be quiet in its early stages. When it does manifest symptoms, the following are likely:
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Most Common Symptoms:
Fatigue as the main symptom
General illness or reduced physical endurance
Mild discomfort or pain in the right, upper abdominal area
Difficulty in weight reduction or unexplained weight gain
As Disease Progression Occurs:
Hepatomegaly, or liver enlargement
Increased liver enzymes (ALT, AST) in blood tests
Severe jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
Leg swelling (oedema) or ascites in cirrhosis
Mental fog (hepatic encephalopathy) in severe liver damage
Diagnosis of MAFLD
MAFLD diagnosis can be based on blood tests, imaging, or liver biopsy, including:
Imaging: Ultrasound, FibroScan (elastography), CT, or MRI
Liver Biopsy: Rare, but the most conclusive test for checking liver inflammation or fibrosis.
Treatment Options of MAFLD
Currently there is no specific treatment directly aimed at MAFLD; however, it can be controlled and even reversed with lifestyle changes:
1. Lifestyle Changes (First-line treatment)
Weight loss: A 5% reduction is helpful, but targeting 7-10% will result in even greater liver fat reduction.
Balanced diet: Adopt a Mediterranean diet emphasising fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, and olive oil. Avoid high sugar, saturated fats, red meats, and processed foods.
Exercise: A minimum of 150 minutes/week of brisk walking.
Alcohol: Needs to be avoided; even moderate consumption can increase liver inflammation.
2. Pharmacological Treatment
Metformin: Improves insulin associated with MAFLD.
Pioglitazone: Helpful in some NASH cases (needs to be evaluated by their physician).
Vitamin E: An antioxidant that may decrease liver inflammation in non-diabetic patients.
Statins: For cholesterol and to improve cardiovascular risk.
3. Follow-up and Monitoring
Scheduled appointments every 3 to 6 months to assess liver enzymes, weight, and other metabolic indicators.
4. Complex Care
Requires specialised care for stage liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, including liver transplant in advanced stages.
FAQs
Why is MAFLD so prevalent in Hyderabad’s IT workforce?
The condition is strongly associated with long hours of sedentary desk work, high work-related stress, irregular sleep patterns and unhealthy eating habits. These lifestyle and behavioral risk factors are central to MAFLD development, particularly in fast‑paced tech jobs
What is the scale of fatty liver disease (MAFLD) among IT workers in Hyderabad?
A study of 345 IT professionals in Hyderabad (July 2023–July 2024), published in Nature Scientific Reports, revealed that 84% of them had increased liver fat, a diagnostic marker of Metabolic Dysfunction‑Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD).
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