Assessing the Lifestyle-related Determinants among Employees Working in the IT Sector of Pune City

The rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Indian IT professionals is concerning due to prolonged sitting, sedentary work hours, irregular sleep, limited diet variety, excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods, and heightened stress. This study aimed to assess lifestyle determinants in the IT population to predict future NCD risks.

A cross-sectional study with 208 participants aged 21-60 years was conducted in Pune. Ethical approval and consent were obtained. Data from various IT sectors used a modified questionnaire incorporating Perceived Stress and IPAQ scales and inquiries on sleep patterns, BMI, ultra-processed food consumption, and substance use.

The participants had a mean age of 31.30 ± 6.26 years with a gender ratio of 1.63:1. The mean BMI was 24.41 ± 3.87 kg/m², 31.3% were overweight, and 9.6% were obese. Before sleep, 89.5% engaged with electronic devices. The majority of participants experience stress, with 63.5% reported moderate stress and 3.4% high stress. Only 6.7% were physically active, and 56.3% were inactive. Gender showed no significant correlation with stress levels, consumption of ultra-processed foods, and Body Mass Index (BMI) study components. Participants were found to be actively engaged in substance abuse, with 15.4% smoking 6-10 cigarettes daily and about 20.2% consuming alcohol twice a week.

Because of their lifestyle, this population will be at a high risk of major chronic NCDs and should be targeted for an early intervention program. It's essential to prioritize preventive actions like adopting a more active lifestyle, implementing stress management techniques, and embracing healthier dietary choices to safeguard the well-being of individuals in this demographic.