A quiet shift has been unfolding in outpatient clinics across India, where young adults are reporting bone and joint issues once thought to affect only older populations. Fatigue, frequent aches, lower back pain, and minor fractures from low-impact activities are on the rise.
According to Dr Lokesh Venkat Bheemisetty, Consultant – Joint Replacement Surgeon and Trauma Surgeon, Arete Hospitals, Hyderabad, increasing sunlight deprivation is behind this trend. India faces an unexpected epidemic of vitamin D deficiency due to a combination of indoor work environments, high-rise living, air-conditioned transport, and screen-heavy lifestyles.
Vitamin D plays a critical role in calcium absorption, bone mineralisation, and muscle strength. The body synthesises it primarily through exposure to sunlight, specifically UVB rays. When skin misses regular sunlight exposure, levels of vitamin D drop, impairing bone health.
Younger individuals often experience quiet hints such as chronic fatigue, vague aches in the muscles and joints, or small fractures from everyday movements. If these signs are overlooked, they can gradually lead to early bone thinning or more serious loss of density later on.
Shifting weather has worsened the issue, with heatwaves, thick pollution, and poor air quality making it difficult to step outside safely. The shift to remote work since the pandemic means even brief exposure to sunlight during a daily commute is gone.
To address this challenge, Dr Bheemisetty recommends conscious choices and daily awareness. Just 15–20 minutes of morning sunlight, a few days a week, can begin to rebuild what has been lost. Vitamin D supplements, outdoor play in children, weight-bearing exercises, and improving dietary intake of calcium-rich foods are also crucial.
Screening for vitamin D levels is a simple diagnostic step that can prevent severe complications. Bone density scans are increasingly being advised for at-risk younger populations as well. The issue is not just about bones, but a reflection of how disconnected modern routines have become from basic biological needs.
Source: https://www.onlymyhealth.com/impact-of-sunlight-deprivation-and-sedentary-lifestyle-on-indias-bone-health-12977836321