In 1903, Thomas Edison famously predicted that the “doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest their patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.” A century later, that prophecy resonates strongly. Our health-care system is under siege, not so much from infections, but from the chronic diseases of lifestyle.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), over 60% of all deaths in India are now due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancers, many of which are largely preventable through lifestyle changes (ICMR-PHFI, India: Health of the Nation’s States, 2023 update).
The insight that lifestyle is the root cause of what ails us has only grown stronger with research. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2020–23 reports that dietary risks, high blood pressure, tobacco use, high BMI, and air pollution are the top five contributors to premature mortality in India. Crucially, genetics explains only a small fraction—10–20%—of disease risk, whereas environment and behaviour account for the majority.
The proof is visible: when rural populations migrate to urban centres or abroad, their disease risk rapidly rises to match that of the new environment, underscoring the dominance of lifestyle over heredity (GBD India Collaborators, Lancet, 2023).
How much of this burden could be avoided? Research suggests that at least 70% of strokes and colon cancers, 80% of heart disease, and over 90% of type 2 diabetes in India are preventable through healthier living (WHO-SEARO, 2022; ICMR, 2023). The implication is profound: instead of blaming our genes or our fate, we can focus on the enormous share—over two-thirds—of disease risk that lies under our control.
And the prescription is remarkably simple. A large Indian cohort study (CARRS Study, BMJ Open, 2022) showed that just four daily habits — not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, engaging in at least 30 minutes of activity, and eating more plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains) while cutting down on red meat and ultra-processed foods — reduced the risk of major chronic diseases by nearly 78%. That means 95% of diabetes risk, 80% of heart attack risk, half of stroke risk, and one-third of cancer risk could be wiped out by lifestyle alone. In a country where over 77 million people live with diabetes and 200 million with hypertension (ICMR-INDIAB, 2023), the scale of this prevention is staggering.
The question naturally arises: Does this prevent disease, or does it also extend life? Evidence shows both. A longitudinal study in India (ICMR–NCD Surveillance 2022) found that adults who adopted even three healthy behaviours—non-smoking, moderate exercise, and adherence to a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and pulses—had over 80% lower risk of early death compared to those who had none of these habits. Internationally, a meta-analysis of 300,000 participants confirmed that such lifestyle factors extend life expectancy by more than a decade (BMJ, 2020).
Even more striking is the effect on biological ageing. A European cohort study measured blood vitamin C as a biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake and showed that people practicing all four healthy behaviours had a mortality risk equivalent to being 14 years younger than their chronological age (Public Health Nutrition, 2021). This is the true meaning of “turning back the clock”—and the lesson applies powerfully to India, where rapid urbanisation has aged our arteries faster than our years.
In short, the doctor of the future in India will not only prescribe pills, but will prescribe pulses; not just insulin, but walking; not only chemotherapy, but also carrots. The solution to our health crisis lies not in more ICUs, but in more sabzi in our thalis, less smoke in our lungs, and more movement in our lives. Lifestyle is not a side issue—it is the frontline medicine for India’s future.
References
• ICMR-PHFI. India: Health of the Nation’s States – NCD Burden Update 2023.
• GBD India Collaborators. “India’s leading risk factors, 2020–23.” Lancet (2023).
• WHO-SEARO. Prevention and Control of NCDs in the South-East Asia Region. 2022.
• Anjana RM et al. “Urban–rural differences in lifestyle and chronic disease in India (CARRS Study).” BMJ Open (2022).
• ICMR-INDIAB. “Prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in India.” 2023 update.
• Khaw K-T et al. “Combined impact of health behaviours and mortality risk.” Public Health Nutrition (2021).
• BMJ. “Healthy lifestyle and life expectancy: meta-analysis.” BMJ (2020).
Give a Reply