Knowledge and Awareness of Lifestyle Diseases Among Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey

Background: Lifestyle diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions, are increasingly affecting young adults. Early signs such as overweight, prediabetes, and elevated blood pressure often go unnoticed due to limited awareness and infrequent health screening. Understanding knowledge of these conditions is essential for preventive strategies.

Objective: To assess awareness of lifestyle diseases, associated risk factors, and preventive measures among young adults using an online survey.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2025 among 1200 young adults aged 18–35 years from urban and semi-urban areas. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling through digital platforms. A structured questionnaire gathered data on sociodemographics, disease awareness, risk factors, and preventive practices. Awareness scores were categorized as good (≥75%), moderate (50–74%), or poor (<50%). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze associations between awareness and sociodemographic variables.

Results: The mean age of participants was 24.8 ± 4.2 years; 52% were female. Most had undergraduate (60%) or postgraduate education (26%); 60% were students. Awareness was highest for diabetes (78%) and lowest for hypertension (46%). Recognition of risk factors was moderate for unhealthy diet (66%) but low for physical inactivity (42%), alcohol consumption (50%), and smoking (58%). Preventive measure awareness was 60% for regular exercise and 30% for routine health screening. Overall, 34% had good awareness, 44% moderate, and 22% poor. Higher education (OR = 2.5; p < 0.001) and family history of lifestyle diseases (OR = 1.8; p = 0.02) significantly predicted better awareness; gender had no significant effect.

Conclusion: Young adults demonstrate moderate awareness of lifestyle diseases, with gaps in recognition of silent conditions and preventive practices. Targeted health education, early screening, promotion of healthy behaviors, and digital outreach are recommended to reduce future disease burden.