60% of Indians Sleep less than 6 Hours Nightly as Sleep Supplements Surge 650%
The report, "The Modern Sleep Bazaar: How Sleep Debt Became India's Wellness Opportunity," analyzed digital conversations, search queries and consumer sentiment to map the country's growing sleep crisis and the commercial response.
Key findings include: • Sleep gummies saw 650% spike in search interest over the past year • Online searches for "how to sleep 8 hours in 4" and similar quick-fix terms are increasingly common • Interest in natural ingredients like melatonin, magnesium, ashwagandha and chamomile has surged • Over 30-40 brands are active in India's sleep supplement space, but few are established players "What we're seeing is a fundamental shift from treating sleep aids as one-off solutions to integrating them into nightly rituals," said Suyog Keluskar, President of the Social Media Intelligence wing of AGR Knowledge Services. "Consumers aren't just buying products—they're buying peace of mind and turning sleep into an active wellness practice." The research reveals significant gaps in the market. While consumers are actively searching for solutions, their digital conversations show heavy emphasis on safety concerns, dependency risks and product effectiveness—indicating demand for more transparency from brands.
The trend represents a major opportunity for established health and wellness companies to enter the space with credibility, particularly as search behaviour shows consumers are looking for reassurance as much as results. This transformation reflects broader changes in how Indians approach wellness, with sleep joining fitness and nutrition as an active health pursuit rather than a passive necessity.
AGR's social listening methodology combines AI technologies with industry expertise to extract insights from real-time online / social media conversations, revealing consumer emotions, fears and aspirations beyond surface-level mentions and hashtags. To request the copy of the report, write to kushal@agrknowledge.com. AGR executives are also available for interviews and additional data insights.
(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Newsvoir and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
How AI Helped an Indian Health Expert Lose 10 Kg Without Giving Up Ice Cream
Live Events For decades, diet culture in India has been dominated by extremes of fad diets, juice cleanses, and the age-old guilt of indulging in sweets. But one Indian health expert, Simran Valecha, decided to test a new approach: combining traditional nutrition with the precision of artificial intelligence. Instead of running to a dietitian, she opened ChatGPT and gave it detailed prompts to help her design her personalized diet plan In that, she wrote her height, weight, and how to lose weight in a sustainable manner. She also mentioned that prepare it according to an Indian diet that will also include main meals and 2-4 snacks throughout the day. She also included that she worked a 9-5 job and spent hours commuting to work. She also included that she works out once a day when she has the leisure time. She also included her preference based on what she wanted to eat for breakfast, lunch, and her surprise, the AI didn't recommend anything drastic. No keto. No intermittent fasting. No starvation. Instead, ChatGPT crafted a personalized plan rooted in Indian staples—dal, roti, sabzi, curd, and seasonal fruits. The twist? It accounted for portion control, calorie balance, and even the occasional three months, she shed 10 kg—without the constant battle of cravings or the fear of 'falling off the wagon.' AI proved what nutritionists have been saying for years, but few practice: sustainability beats has encouraged many of her followers to get a personalized diet for themselves, as AI helps in not only providing a diet but also guidance throughout. With mid-midnight craving to cheat diet in between, that will help her to be consistent. It provided her with a clear direction and not a strict diet, which is impossible to stay consistent supported the integration of AI with human support to create a sustainable path to weight beyond the success story lies a bigger question: is this the future of dieting in India? With AI tools like ChatGPT capable of analysing food patterns, cultural preferences, and even emotional triggers, diet plans no longer must feel foreign or restrictive. Instead of imported fad diets, Indians can now have technology design nutrition strategies tailored to local cuisine and health expert notes another benefit: accountability. By having ChatGPT track her progress and tweak the plan weekly, she felt guided without judgment. It wasn't about punishment, it was about progress. 'It was like having a non-judgmental coach who understood my cravings,' she importantly, this experiment challenges the belief that health demands sacrifice. Instead, it shows that with the right tools, we can balance losing weight while still enjoying life's small perhaps that's the most exciting part. AI isn't just changing how we work or communicate, it's reshaping how we eat, live, and stay healthy. If it can make ice cream part of a weight-loss plan, what else is possible?
Mint
8 hours ago
- Mint
Why India needs to take prediabetes more seriously
Delhi-based Mansi Kashyap, 29, a chartered accountant, was in peak physical shape during her college years. But post-graduation, her life shifted. With career anxiety mounting and family pressures weighing her down, her once-vibrant energy began to fade. Already diagnosed with anxiety, she chalked up the fatigue and lethargy to mental health struggles. 'I'd wake up tired and feel drained all day, despite my job being sedentary," she recalls. 'Then my belly started changing shape. I took up brisk walking and even jumped rope, but nothing improved. For two years, I ignored these signs until I started experiencing excessive thirst and frequent urination." Alarmed, she finally went in for a full health check-up—the first in nearly a decade. The results were sobering: she had prediabetes. Kashyap's experience is far from unique. Millions across India may be living in this silent zone of metabolic dysfunction unaware that they could be inching towards a chronic disease that could have been intercepted with timely action According to a 2023 ICMR–INDIAB study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research, at least 136 million Indians, or 15.3% of the population, are living with prediabetes. 'The prediabetic stage is crucial because it represents a window of opportunity: blood sugar levels are elevated but not yet high enough to be classified as diabetes," says Dr Paras Agarwal, clinical director & head of diabetes, obesity & metabolic disorders at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram. 'While typically asymptomatic, individuals in this stage are at significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes." India, home to the second-largest diabetic population globally, has long focused on treating diabetes. But it is in the years—often decades—before full-blown disease sets in that the body sends warning signs. Most people just don't know how to read them. 'In India, nearly 50% of people living with diabetes are unaware of their condition, and prediabetes often goes unnoticed until it progresses. This silent progression is usually uncovered only through incidental findings during routine health check-ups, indicating a reactive, rather than proactive, diagnostic culture," notes Aditya Kandoi, CEO & founder of Redcliffe Labs. 'Routine screenings often miss prediabetes in younger or asymptomatic individuals because they aren't perceived as 'at risk.' As a result, what could be caught and managed early is allowed to evolve into a full-blown disease." SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR According to Dr Aarathi Bellary, consultant internal medicine at KIMS Hospitals, Kondapur, the numbers are already staggering. 'In India, prediabetes prevalence ranges from about 5–22% across regions, with recent large studies showing rates near 10–14% in both urban and rural populations," she explains. 'However, a significant proportion of individuals with prediabetes and even diabetes remain undiagnosed, particularly in lower socio-economic and less-educated groups, and increasingly rural populations." Doctors agree that prediabetes doesn't arrive with an announcement—it creeps in masked as exhaustion, skin changes, or vague complaints of gastric distress. 'Insulin resistance often develops gradually, but certain clinical signs can offer early clues," says Agarwal. These include central fat accumulation, acanthosis nigricans—a darkening of skin on the nape— and skin tags around the neck or armpits. Bellary offers a broader checklist of symptoms: 'Energy fluctuations, brain fog, cravings, disturbed sleep, mild depression, premature balding—these clusters, especially in those with a family history or other risk factors, should prompt early metabolic assessment—even before blood sugar meets prediabetes cut-offs." She adds that even 'seemingly healthy young adults, especially those not obviously overweight or without family history, are never screened until they present with more severe symptoms." Dr Abizer Manked, consultant physician at Saifee Hospital in Mumbai, notes, 'Routine screening is very underutilized in India. None of the younger generation does any blood tests unless they're unwell. Prevention is better than cure but it has to start with awareness and regular health checkups." STRESS, SLEEP AND METABOLISM Modern life is a metabolic minefield. Long commutes, job stress, screen-induced insomnia, and irregular meal timings don't just exhaust the mind—they disrupt the body's hormonal balance, too. 'Chronic stress and poor sleep are increasingly recognized as independent risk factors for metabolic disorders," notes Agarwal. 'Even in the absence of a poor diet or lack of exercise, these factors can significantly worsen glycemic control, elevate blood pressure, and increase the likelihood of cardiac events." Dr Jaspreet Singh, endocrinologist, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, Jammu highlights, 'In urban settings, we increasingly see young Indians with borderline or elevated fasting insulin and HOMA-IR scores, despite normal body weight and diet. Sleeping for less than six hours, high nighttime smartphone usage, and work-related stress are the leading causes of stress among individuals. These non-dietary triggers now play a clinically significant role in the early onset of metabolic dysfunction in the younger population." Bellary expands: 'Urban environments foster a 'wired but tired' phenotype: people may exercise occasionally and avoid obvious junk food but compensate with poor sleep and high stress, which can stealthily tip them into prediabetes despite a normal BMI." She further highlights a concerning trend in semi-urban India: 'Rural and semi-urban populations are addicted to carbonated high-sugary drinks with absolutely no awareness—this is another big problem." PREDIABETES IS REVERSIBLE 'Prediabetes represents a 'gray zone'—a transitional stage between normal metabolic function and full-blown diabetes. Unlike diabetes, which is considered remissible at best, prediabetes is largely reversible," Agarwal affirms. The key lies in lifestyle intervention. 'Improving dietary patterns, increasing physical activity, and losing excess weight can reduce insulin resistance and, in many cases, return blood sugar levels to normal. These changes can also delay or prevent the onset of diabetes by years." 'In Indian culture, mithais are a must for every occasion. We need a cultural shift to happen where we cut sugar, reduce carbs, move more, eat less fried food. We are a sedentary nation—and that has to change," says Manked. Singh notes, 'Although we can reverse prediabetes with timely action, India's healthcare system remains largely reactive. Most interventions begin only after a confirmed diabetes diagnosis, rather than during the warning stage. The current infrastructure lacks scalable programs for routine screening at the community level. Public health workers like ASHA and ANMs are often overburdened and undertrained for metabolic screening. To shift toward prevention, we must integrate early screening protocols, like community-based HbA1c testing, into primary health centers and corporate wellness programs. Without proactive follow-up systems, even identified prediabetes falls through the cracks." To stop prediabetes from becoming India's next major health crisis, experts agree: change must start at every level. Tanisha Saxena is a Delhi-based independent journalist. She writes stories that are on the intersection of art, culture and lifestyle.
Economic Times
9 hours ago
- Economic Times
How AI Helped an Indian Health Expert Lose 10 Kg Without Giving Up Ice Cream
Synopsis When we think of diet plans, the first thing that comes to mind is sacrifice: no desserts, no late-night snacks, no comfort food. But what if artificial intelligence could flip that idea on its head? That's exactly what happened when a health expert, Simran Valecha, turned to ChatGPT for help in creating a hyper-personalized Indian diet plan. The result: a 10 kg weight loss in just a few months while still enjoying a scoop of ice cream every week. ET Online For decades, diet culture in India has been dominated by extremes of fad diets, juice cleanses, and the age-old guilt of indulging in sweets. But one Indian health expert, Simran Valecha, decided to test a new approach: combining traditional nutrition with the precision of artificial intelligence. Instead of running to a dietitian, she opened ChatGPT and gave it detailed prompts to help her design her personalized diet that, she wrote her height, weight, and how to lose weight in a sustainable manner. She also mentioned that prepare it according to an Indian diet that will also include main meals and 2-4 snacks throughout the day. She also included that she worked a 9-5 job and spent hours commuting to work. She also included that she works out once a day when she has the leisure time. She also included her preference based on what she wanted to eat for breakfast, lunch, and her surprise, the AI didn't recommend anything drastic. No keto. No intermittent fasting. No starvation. Instead, ChatGPT crafted a personalized plan rooted in Indian staples—dal, roti, sabzi, curd, and seasonal fruits. The twist? It accounted for portion control, calorie balance, and even the occasional three months, she shed 10 kg—without the constant battle of cravings or the fear of 'falling off the wagon.' AI proved what nutritionists have been saying for years, but few practice: sustainability beats has encouraged many of her followers to get a personalized diet for themselves, as AI helps in not only providing a diet but also guidance throughout. With mid-midnight craving to cheat diet in between, that will help her to be consistent. It provided her with a clear direction and not a strict diet, which is impossible to stay consistent with. She supported the integration of AI with human support to create a sustainable path to weight beyond the success story lies a bigger question: is this the future of dieting in India? With AI tools like ChatGPT capable of analysing food patterns, cultural preferences, and even emotional triggers, diet plans no longer must feel foreign or restrictive. Instead of imported fad diets, Indians can now have technology design nutrition strategies tailored to local cuisine and health expert notes another benefit: accountability. By having ChatGPT track her progress and tweak the plan weekly, she felt guided without judgment. It wasn't about punishment, it was about progress. 'It was like having a non-judgmental coach who understood my cravings,' she importantly, this experiment challenges the belief that health demands sacrifice. Instead, it shows that with the right tools, we can balance losing weight while still enjoying life's small perhaps that's the most exciting part. AI isn't just changing how we work or communicate, it's reshaping how we eat, live, and stay healthy. If it can make ice cream part of a weight-loss plan, what else is possible? Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein.
