Health issues in young Indian adults in the aftermath of the pandemic

The personal health challenges of the generation who became adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, how they deal with them, and what it heralds for the future

We’ve entered a post-COVID world, but one that has left India’s youth with a set of health challenges in its wake. A generation of under-25s saw major milestones through the pandemic: some became adults over the last three years, some graduated, some got their first jobs. Health, both mental and physical became a priority in a way it hadn’t been before, with a rising awareness of its importance and much more access to information – some legit, some hearsay.  Hear four people tell us how the pandemic made them mindful of their health and shift to positive lifestyles.

Disrupted sleep patterns   

Kunwar Thapar, 23, from Gurugram, Haryana, lives with his parents and turned 21 in 2020. He will be graduating this year  

The stress and isolation of the pandemic broke Kunwar Thapar in many ways. “Even today, I get a maximum of three-and-a-half to four hours of sleep,” he says, adding however that there is a difference between then and now. Then, he would barely get an hour of sleep, despite taking melatonin supplements, and fall asleep during online college classes. Now, despite feeling fatigued most of the time, “I know I have goals and responsibilities,” he says. Mr. Thapar also developed fibromyalgia during the pandemic that doctors told him was brought on by stress, and his sleeping pattern feeds into the condition and is a consequence of it too. Today, he tries to lead a healthier life than he could during the pandemic, cutting back on smoking, exercising, eating healthy, and spending more time with the people he loves. “My father had a heart attack the year the pandemic broke, and I suddenly understood the importance of family,” he says, adding that the first person he confided in about the stress of the time was his mother.    

Also read: What health means to under-25s across India

Irregular eating  

N. Sanofar, 22, from Salem, Tamil Nadu, lives with her parents and graduated during the pandemic. She is pursuing a Master’s degree.