Festive season triggers short-term health shifts, India Inc. employees turn to preventive care

ekincare, India’s integrated digital health benefits platform, has released its latest report, India Inc. Wellness Pulse 2025: The Festive Impact. The findings highlight that while the festive season caused short-term disruptions in metabolic, lifestyle, and mental health patterns across India Inc., employees quickly returned to healthier routines with a rise in preventive screenings and digital health engagement.

The report notes that employees experienced short-term fluctuations due to festive eating patterns, disrupted sleep schedules, and seasonal fatigue. Blood sugar abnormalities rose by 5 per cent immediately after festivals, while liver function abnormalities increased by 8.9 per cent. Physical activity declined, with step counts dropping by 18 per cent during the festive period. Mental wellness consultations increased by 21 per cent post-festivals.

Women showed higher metabolic sensitivity, with a 7 per cent increase in blood sugar fluctuations. The 31–40 age group recorded the strongest diet-related impact. States including Haryana, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Telangana saw the sharpest rise in post-festival metabolic risk markers.

Despite these disruptions, employees resumed healthier habits once routines normalised. Preventive test bookings increased by 16 per cent in the weeks following festivities, with growing interest in lipid profiles, liver tests, HbA1c panels, and thyroid assessments. Overall digital health engagement on ekincare’s platform rose 24 per cent year-on-year, supported by teleconsultations, wellbeing program participation, and proactive check-ups. The BFSI and IT sectors showed the strongest recovery, reflecting higher awareness and readiness to act on early metabolic or lifestyle risk signals.

Commenting on the findings, Kiran Kalakuntla, CEO & Co-founder of ekincare, said, “Every festive season brings changes in how we eat, sleep and manage our routines, and the data reflects that. But what is even more important is the shift we are seeing across India Inc, employees are becoming far more proactive about their health. The strong rise in preventive screenings and digital consultations aligns with the broader national push toward preventive healthcare, which is now becoming a priority for both the workforce and policymakers. Preventive care is no longer optional; it is the foundation for healthier organisations and a healthier India. At ekincare, our focus is to help companies move from reactive support to continuous, data-led wellbeing, so employees stay protected not just during festivals or stressful periods, but throughout the year.”

The Wellness Pulse 2025 findings reinforce that preventive health is central to workforce wellbeing. As organisations prepare for 2025, early screening, timely intervention, and continuous health monitoring are expected to play a decisive role in building resilient workplaces across India.