Techie, 24, Doesn't Drink, But Liver is already damaged. Internet Reacts

News18

2 days ago

Last Updated:
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Hyderabad discovered that 84% of IT employees are affected by Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease.
In a shocking turn of events, a 24-year-old techie recently opened up about facing Liver problems despite being a non-alcoholic and a non-smoker. The reason? His poor diet and lifestyle choices. But this was not the only case, as the youngster later discovered that many of his friends working at Multi-National Companies like Amazon, Google or Microsoft, among others, are facing similar health issues, which could be alarming for all the corporate employees in India.
Taking to Reddit, the user claimed that Liver problems are becoming 'disturbingly common' in the corporate and advised everyone to take tests and precautions according to the requirements.
He wrote, 'I'm 24, work in tech, don't drink—and my liver is already damaged. Turns out, I'm not the only one. I spoke to several of my friends, all working in different big tech companies like Google, Amazon, PhonePe and Microsoft, in different cities, living what we call 'a normal tech life.' Yet, strangely, a common thread emerged in all those conversations—most of them were going through something they never expected to face in their twenties: elevated SGPT and SGOT levels."
'Initially, I assumed it was only me. After a routine blood test revealed that my liver enzymes were slightly higher, I was concerned but thought it was an isolated case. However, when I casually brought it up in conversations—over coffee breaks, the team calls, or over a weekend trip—I was surprised to hear comments like- Same here or I've also been requested to repeat my LFT," the post continued.
He further added that most of the employees are in their mid-20s, which is 'supposedly their Physical peak' but have already been warned to take care of their liver, cut down oil, avoid processed food and reduce stress. 'It's become disturbingly common. The majority of us don't even drink or smoke heavily—yet our medical reports tell a different story," he added.
Furthermore, the post highlighted the unhealthy lifestyle choices of youngsters these days due to the hectic work culture. He continued, 'We're often sitting for 10-12 hours a day, ordering in food because we're too tired to cook, skipping meals between back-to-back meetings, and sleeping poorly because of late-night screen time. When you combine caffeine, stress, and a sedentary lifestyle, you have the perfect storm for what doctors now refer to as NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease)."
However, the user also marked significant measures for those dealing with liver problems. The post further reads, 'I've seen friends bounce back in just a few weeks with simple shifts-home-cooked food, 30 minutes of walking daily, hydration, fixed sleep, and conscious screen time reduction. What matters is catching it early and taking it seriously."
Previously, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) discovered that 84 per cent of IT employees are affected by Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), a condition linked to prolonged sitting, work stress, unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activity.