New Delhi: Demanding work pressures coupled with unhealthy lifestyle will take a toll on the Indian working professionals according to  the World Health Organization/World Economic Forum report on workplace wellness.

The report indicates that India would suffer a revenue loss of of $237 billion between 2005 and 2015 due to the rising impact of heart diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory problems. Globally chronic diseases accounts for more than 60 per cent of all deaths globally and is projected to account for 47 million deaths annually in the next 25 years.

The WHO study emphasises on cognitive theory and the health belief model, which suggests changing unhealthy behaviour and addressed physical activity, blood pressure, intake of fruits and vegetables, diabetes, BMI and heart-healthy life.

According to WHO, the global burden of disease is already shifting from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (See:Lifestyle diseases killing more than communicable illness: WHO). In India, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, stroke and chronic lung diseases have already become major public health problems.

The alarming result indicated that almost 47 per cent of the workforce in India, especially in urban areas, were found to be overweight while around 27 per cent were suffering from hypertension. Around 10 per cent of those surveyed were also found to be diabetic.

The survey looked at the health of over 35,000 employees and their family members in 10 different industries, and 20,000 randomly selected individuals, found workers at greater risk of developing chronic diseases like heart attack, stroke and cancer.

According to the health ministry  the number of deaths due to Ischemic heart diseases in India is likely to increase to 2 million by 2010 from 1.6 million in 2000.

More than six million people have coronary artery disease and about five million people have rheumatic heart disease. Around 2 lakh babies are born every year with some form of congenital cardiothoracic defect. With the aging population, degenerative diseases are also increasing.

India also has largest number of diabetics in the world - 25 to 30 million. India is projected to have more than 37 million diabetics in 2010 and more than 57 million in 2025.