Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed a question in Lok Sabha regarding awareness and actions related to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD). This includes acknowledging research on MAFLD prevalence among IT employees, outlining existing studies, and detailing government initiatives to raise awareness, promote healthy lifestyles, and improve nutritional standards. The response also covers inter-ministerial collaborations to address this public health issue.
Key Points / Main Content:
Research Findings on MAFLD:
* A 2025 study in Hyderabad found a high prevalence of MAFLD (84.06%) and Metabolic Syndrome (34.20%) among IT employees.
ICMR Study on Metabolic and Liver Disease:
* An ICMR study (IMELD Phase I) in Rajasthan found that 37.19% of participants had Fatty Liver Disease (FLD), with higher prevalence in males and those consuming fast food weekly.
Government Initiatives and Guidelines:
* Operational guidelines for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) have been issued under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPNCD), promoting healthy diet, physical activity, weight management, and reduced sugar/saturated fat consumption.
* States and Union Territories have been requested to undertake screening and risk stratification.
* Preventive aspects of NCDs are strengthened through Ayushman Arogya Mandir.
* Public awareness is increased through health days and media campaigns, with financial support from the National Health Mission (NHM).
Awareness Campaigns:
* The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has conducted a social media campaign on liver health.
Inter-Ministerial Collaboration:
* The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports implements the Fit India movement.
* The Ministry of AYUSH promotes Yoga, including a 5-minute "Yoga Break" protocol for professionals.
* The Ministry of AYUSH has published Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) for Metabolic Disorders in Ayush system of medicine, addressing NAFLD prevention and management.
Impact Analysis:
Citizens:
* Impact: Increased awareness of MAFLD and related lifestyle disorders, and promotion of healthier lifestyles and nutritional standards.
* Action Required: Adopt healthier dietary habits, engage in regular physical activity, and utilize available resources and guidelines for prevention and management of NAFLD.
Healthcare Providers:
* Impact: Need to implement screening and risk stratification for NAFLD as per the issued guidelines.
* Action Required: Undertake screening and risk stratification, provide appropriate referrals, and guide patients on lifestyle interventions.
State and Union Territory Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the national program and conducting awareness activities.
* Action Required: Undertake screening and risk stratification, conduct awareness generation activities for NCDs.
Government of India (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare):
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the program and providing financial support.
* Action Required: Monitor the implementation of the program, provide financial support to states and UTs, and continue to develop and disseminate guidelines and awareness materials.
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India):
* Impact: Tasked with raising awareness about liver health through social media campaigns.
* Action Required: Continue and expand awareness campaigns on liver health and related topics.
Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy):
* Impact: Promote Yoga and traditional medicine approaches for managing metabolic disorders.
* Action Required: Continue to promote Yoga, disseminate the "Yoga Break" protocol, and implement Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) for Metabolic Disorders.
Key Entities Referenced
Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease: A liver disease (MAFLD) investigated in the context of IT employees and addressed in the policy.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health and family welfare policies, answering the question in Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament, where the starred question was raised.
Hyderabad, Telangana: A city in India where research on MAFLD prevalence among IT employees was conducted.
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases: A national program under which guidelines for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) have been issued.
Ayushman Arogya Mandir: A part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care, promoting wellness activities.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India: An authority which conducted awareness campaigns on liver health via social media.
Jaipur, Rajasthan: A city in Rajasthan where ICMR study was conducted to understand risk factors for Fatty Liver Disease.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARREDQUESTION NO. 194
TO BE ANSWERED ON1STAUGUST,2025.
AWARENESS ONMAFLD
*194.SHRIASADUDDIN OWAISI:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government isaware of recent research published inNature which found that
84% of Information Technology Sector employees surveyed in Hyderabad had Metabolic
Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), and 71% were obese and if so, the
detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Government has conducted/plans to conduct any nationwide health survey or
screening focused on the prevalence of MAFLD and related lifestyle disorders and if so, the
detailsthereof;
(c)thesteps taken/proposed tobe takenbythe Governmenttoraise awarenessabout MAFLD,
promote healthylifestyle interventionsandimprove nutritionalstandards incorporate settings;
(d) whether the Government proposes to issue any workplace health guidelines or advisories
for urbancorporate offices toaddress life style disorders andif so, the detailsthereof; and
(e) whether any inter-ministerial collaboration is being planned to address this emerging
public healthissue andif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIJAGATPRAKASH NADDA)
(a)to(e): AStatementislaid on the Tableof the House.STATEMENTREFERRED TOIN REPLYTO LOK SABHASTARREDQUESTION
NO.194 FOR1STAUGUST, 2025
******
(a): As per the study published in Nature Scientific Reports Journal in 2025 titled
“Prevalence of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease among Information
Technology Employees in India” involving 345 IT employees in Hyderabad, Metabolic
Syndrome (MetS) was present in 118 (34.20%) of the employees. A total of 290 (84.06%)
employees had increased liver fat accumulation which indicates high prevalence of MAFLD
amongITemployees.
(b): An ICMR study with Institute of Liver andBiliary Science, Delhi conducted on Indian
Metabolic and Liver Disease (IMELD) Phase I was an initiative focused on understanding
regional risk factors for Fatty Liver Disease (FLD), Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) Diabetes
Mellitus (DM), and Hypertension (HTN) in various villages of three tehsils of Jaipur,
Rajasthan. The keyfindings of the study are that37.19% of participants hadFLD,with males
showing a higherprevalence.Those consuming fast-food weekly(76.3%) were at higherrisk.
(c) to (e): The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued Operational guidelines for
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) under National Programme for Prevention and
Control of Non-Communicable Diseases which provides for healthy diet, regular physical
activity, weight management, andreducedsugar/saturated fat consumption for preventionand
management of NAFLD. Further, States and Union Territories have been requested to
undertake screening and risk stratification by the health care providers as per the guidelines
andguide appropriate referrals.
Preventive aspect of NCDs is strengthened under Comprehensive Primary Health
Care through Ayushman Arogya Mandir, by promotion of wellness activities and targeted
communication at the community level. Further initiatives for increasing public awareness
about NCDs and for promotion of healthy lifestyle includes observation of National &
International Health Days and use of print, electronic and social media for continued
communityawareness.
The Government of India provides financial support under NHM for awareness
generation activities for NCDs to be undertaken by the States and Union Territories. Health
promotion messages on fatty liver are being disseminated through IEC materials and public
campaignsunderNP-NCD.
The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has carried out an
awareness campaign across its social media platforms to raise awareness about liver health.
As a part of thiscampaign,a wide range of creative,videos, andreelshave beendisseminatedto engage audiences and convey critical messages on liver health ina relatable and impactful
manner.
Fit India movement is implemented by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and
various Yoga related activitiesare carried out by Ministry of AYUSH. The Ministry of Ayush
has developed a 5-minute yoga protocol called Yoga Break (Y break) devised with an aim to
help professionals to de–stress, refresh and re-focus. It consists of a few ‘Light’ practices
that can be done by taking a few minutes break from work. The protocol comprises few
simple Yoga practices which includes Asana (postures), Pranayama (breathing techniques)
and Dhyana (meditation). It has been carefully developed by eminent experts and a tested
protocol.
Ayush Vertical, Directorate General of Health Services with the support of Research
Councils under the Ministry of Ayush, has published Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs)
for Metabolic Disorders in Ayush system of medicine. These guidelines specifically address
the prevention and management of NAFLD and represent a coordinated effort to integrate
traditional systems of medicine into the national response to metabolic and lifestyle-related
healthchallenges.
*****