'Here's something worrying...' Zerodha CEO raises alarm over THIS habit among Indians

Bengaluru: Zerodha co-founder and CEO Nithin Kamath has expressed concerns over the growing public health crisis in India.

In a post shared on X, Kamath cited a troubling trend revealed during the earnings call of a leading beverage maker, indicating a surge in soft drink consumption across India.

"Here's something worrying from a recent earnings call of a beverage maker: Indians are consuming more soft drinks than ever. Even Indian companies have said something similar. Remember, India is at the epicentre of the global diabetes epidemic," Kamath posted.

This is not the first time Kamath has sounded the alarm. In a post he shared in November last year, he had called diabetes “a ticking time bomb for India.” He reiterated those concerns in his latest message, highlighting that India now has the highest number of people with diabetes in the world — approximately 21 crore.

“What’s particularly alarming is the rate at which diabetes is affecting young Indians.” Citing a recent study, he said a 20-year-old woman living in an Indian city today has a 64.6% lifetime risk of developing diabetes, while the risk for a young man stands at 55.5%.

“About 27.5% of people with diabetes don’t even know they have it. And even among those who do, very few receive proper treatment,” he said. Kamath added that less than 20% of Indians have health insurance, making diabetes a significant financial burden for many low-income households.

“We need public awareness campaigns, better insurance coverage for vulnerable communities, and early detection programs. Even small lifestyle changes like walking or cycling for five extra minutes a day can help.”

He also mentioned that Zerodha has been backing startups that focus on preventive health and wellness. “But to truly address this crisis, we need collective action—from individuals, businesses, and the government,” he said.