Experts urge corporations to rethink employees’ well-being at health summit in Hyderabad

obesity and metabolic disorders, examining how lifestyle patterns, work environments and policy gaps are fuelling a silent public health crisis.

On the role of workplaces in shaping health outcomes, Satyanarayana Mathla, president of the Telangana Facilities Management Council (TFMC), said companies are gradually moving beyond symbolic wellness efforts and embedding health into building design. “Twenty years ago, wellness accounted for barely 5% of how we thought about buildings. Today, it is closer to 80%,” he said.

Mathla said modern office spaces are increasingly being designed with natural light, better ventilation, open-air zones, standing desks and movement-friendly layouts. “We are moving away from cubicles to wellness spaces. There are stand-up zones, multiple movement zones for every 10 workstations, and a push to encourage employees to walk more during the workday,” he said, adding that continuous employee feedback is crucial.

Speakers also underlined the importance of flexible working hours, citing traffic congestion, pollution and long commute times. Metabolic health concerns featured prominently across sectors, including among frontline public-sector workers. Experts noted that nearly 40% of the Telangana police force is not in good health.

Stephen Raveendra, IPS, commissioner of civil supplies, said, “Metabolic illness is directly linked to operational efficiency and readiness. Police personnel are constantly exposed to stress, irregular shifts, conflict situations, and long hours on the streets. This leads to cardiac, respiratory, and other serious health issues,” adding that the department is now placing greater emphasis on physical and mental wellness.

At the policy level, Uma Chigurupati, executive director, Granules India, said addressing the metabolic crisis requires rethinking India’s public distribution system (PDS). “Govt rations need adequate protein, fibre, and healthy fats. Millets and jowar used to be staples, but rice consumption has risen largely because that’s what the system supplies,” she said.

Sharing a pilot initiative in Vikarabad, Chigurupati said decentralising the PDS by sourcing millets from local farmers, processing them through self-help groups, and distributing them through fair price shops and mid-day meal schemes delivered positive results. “A small tweak in govt policy can impact millions,” she said.