What the Latest Report Reveals
ICICI Lombard has released the 8th edition of its India Wellness Index for 2025, highlighting a worrisome surge in lifestyle diseases most notably, diabetes. The study, conducted with Kantar, shows 17% of respondents now report having diabetes, underlining growing health risks in modern India.
Context: Why This Wellness Index Matters
The Wellness Index is ICICI Lombard’s long-running effort to map well-being in urban India. It measures six key pillars physical, mental, financial, family, workplace, and social wellness across 19 Indian cities.The 2025 release comes on World Diabetes Day, making its insights timely and urgent.
Key Findings from the 2025 Wellness Index
- Diabetes Prevalence: 17% of Indian adults now report having diabetes, placing it among the top five lifestyle illnesses.
- Wellness Score: India’s overall wellness index remains stable at 72, matching the previous year.
- Generational Divide:
- Gen Z: Significant drop in wellness across all six pillars.
- Gen X & Women: Positive trends improved fitness, financial planning, and family bonding.
- Stress and Fatigue: Around one in three Indians report high daily stress, and 41% struggle with constant tiredness.
- Insurance & Health Tech: About 50% of Indians view health insurance as critical to their wellness, and users of fitness trackers score around 20 points higher on the wellness index.
Expert Insight on Shifting Wellness Patterns
Sheena Kapoor, Head of Marketing & CSR at ICICI Lombard, noted:
“The 2025 Wellness Index reminds us that lifestyle diseases like diabetes are escalating quickly, but small, consistent habits balanced diet, regular movement, and proactive health planning can reshape India’s wellness narrative.”
Her comments highlight a critical shift: for many Indians, wellness is now anchored in daily discipline rather than occasional efforts.
Why These Findings Matter Deeply
- Health system burden: A rising share of diabetes and stress-related conditions could strain public health resources.
- Insurance relevance: The strong link between wellness scores and health insurance suggests people increasingly view policies as more than financial protection it’s part of a proactive health strategy.
- Youth wellness crisis: The decline among Gen Z is particularly alarming, signaling the need for targeted wellness programs in schools, colleges, and workplaces.
- Work-life wellness: The index underscores the challenge for working adults, especially women, to maintain balance across work, health, and family.
What’s Next: How This Can Trigger Change
- Preventive health push: Insurers could roll out more wellness-driven products linked to insurance incentivising healthy habits, routine screening, and policy benefits.
- Policy & CSR: Governments and organizations may partner with wellness platforms to promote healthy lifestyles in younger generations.
- Health tech adoption: Wider use of fitness trackers and health apps can be encouraged to close wellness gaps, especially in urban youth.
- Customized wellness education: Educational and corporate institutions may design wellness curricula for Gen Z that address stress, diet, and digital-health balance.
Conclusion
ICICI Lombard’s 8th Wellness Index report paints a mixed picture: while overall wellness remains stable, the rise of diabetes and generational wellness disparities are urgent red flags. The study makes it clear that wellness is no longer a passive concept it requires active engagement through lifestyle, planning, and protection. As India grapples with rising chronic disease risks, tools like insurance and health awareness will be critical for a healthier future.
