The BRICS New Delhi Declaration has put obesity and healthy lifestyles on the global health agenda. Long working hours and sedentary jobs can raise metabolic health risks. A diabetologist shares a practical, India-specific roadmap to prevent Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Obesity and non-communicable diseases have officially found a place on the BRICS health agenda, with leaders adopting the New Delhi Declaration and recognising them as major global public health challenges. The declaration, adopted on September 12, also endorsed the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle and the BRICS Roadmap for the Joint Initiative on Healthy Lifestyle Promotion for 2026–2029.
The development comes with a question that is considerably more practical than another warning about the dangers of obesity- what does a healthy lifestyle actually look like for people who spend most of their day sitting at a desk, work long hours and struggle to find time for exercise?
For India, where working routines can involve long commutes, prolonged screen time, irregular meals and sedentary office hours, the answer cannot simply be a list of ideal habits that are difficult to sustain.
Dr Paras Agarwal, Director – Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolic Clinic, CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon, says the BRICS focus offers an opportunity to move the conversation towards prevention and early identification of metabolic risk.
“For a diabetologist, the starting point has to be honesty about daily reality,” he says. “Long working hours, prolonged sitting, irregular meals, and almost no time carved out for exercise are not excuses; they are the environment most professionals operate in.”
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The New Delhi Declaration places obesity and NCDs within a broader preventive-health framework, calling for stronger action across governments and societies rather than relying only on treatment after disease develops. It also endorses a joint healthy-lifestyle initiative and a 2026–2029 roadmap for BRICS countries.
That approach is particularly relevant to conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, which can develop gradually and may remain unnoticed for years. For Agarwal, prevention needs to begin before a person receives a diagnosis.
“A healthy lifestyle roadmap that ignores this and places the entire burden on individual willpower is bound to fail,” he says.
That means looking at the places where people spend most of their time, including offices and workplaces, as well as individual food and activity choices.
Sitting less matters, even before the gym
For a person working at a desk all day, exercise does not have to begin with an hour at the gym.
Agarwal recommends breaking up long periods of sitting with small bursts of movement. Walking during a work break, taking the stairs instead of the lift or stretching between meetings can help introduce activity into an otherwise sedentary day.
“Regular aerobic exercise and strength training still matter and should be tailored to a person’s health status and physical ability,” he says.
But there is also a role for employers. Active breaks, walk-friendly workspaces and easier access to physical activity can make movement more realistic during the working day. The World Health Organization recommends that adults undertake regular physical activity and reduce sedentary time, noting that physical inactivity is an important risk factor for NCDs.
A healthier Indian plate does not need to be unfamiliar
Food is another area where practical advice can quickly become unrealistic. Long working hours often mean skipped breakfasts, rushed lunches, frequent snacking or ordering food because there is simply no time to cook. Sugary drinks and packaged snacks can become convenient additions to a workday without people necessarily noticing how frequently they are consuming them.
Agarwal says an India-specific approach should not require people to abandon familiar foods. “A realistic Indian approach doesn’t demand giving up traditional food; it asks for balance- vegetables, pulses, whole grains, adequate protein and sensible portions built around familiar meals,” he says.
Planning can make that easier. Carrying a nutritious snack, preparing some meals in advance or simply deciding what to eat before hunger sets in can reduce dependence on whatever is most convenient at the end of a long workday.
How sedentary living connects to diabetes
The concern around inactivity is not limited to weight gain. Prolonged inactivity, particularly when combined with excess calorie intake and other risk factors, can contribute to poorer metabolic health and reduced insulin sensitivity. Over time, susceptible individuals can progress from normal glucose levels to prediabetes and, eventually, Type 2 diabetes.
That progression is not inevitable. Regular physical activity, weight management and dietary changes can help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. WHO also identifies physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and overweight or obesity among important modifiable risk factors for the disease.
This is where early detection becomes important. Someone can develop metabolic abnormalities without experiencing obvious symptoms, making preventive screening particularly relevant for people with multiple risk factors.
Don’t judge metabolic health by weight alone
The BRICS focus on obesity also raises an important point about how metabolic health is assessed. A person’s BMI can provide useful information, but it does not capture everything. Abdominal fat, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid levels can provide additional clues about metabolic risk.
“There is also an India-specific truth worth repeating: a normal BMI does not rule out metabolic risk, especially when abdominal fat or other risk factors are present,” Agarwal says.
People with a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, excess abdominal fat or a history of gestational diabetes may therefore need to discuss appropriate screening with their doctor rather than assuming that a normal weight means their metabolic health is fine.
Sleep and stress belong in the same conversation
A healthy lifestyle cannot be reduced to food and exercise. For people working long hours, sleep is often the first thing sacrificed when deadlines pile up. Chronic stress can also influence eating patterns, physical activity and sleep, creating a cycle that makes healthier choices harder.
“Encouraging a consistent sleep routine and genuine recovery time isn’t a lifestyle luxury, but it’s preventive healthcare,” Agarwal says.
What should workplaces change?
If BRICS countries are serious about promoting healthier lifestyles, the conversation cannot remain limited to individual behaviour.
Workplaces can influence how easy or difficult it is for employees to make healthier choices. Healthier cafeteria options, opportunities for movement, active breaks and access to preventive health checks could become part of a broader workplace-health strategy. Telling a person with a sedentary job to “exercise more” does not address the environment in which they spend most of their waking hours.
The BRICS healthy-lifestyle roadmap, which runs from 2026 to 2029, provides an opportunity to translate broad commitments around prevention into practical interventions.
For India, that could mean making metabolic health part of routine workplace and primary healthcare conversations rather than waiting until someone develops diabetes, hypertension or obesity-related complications.
