Kolkata, March 17, 2026 : Digestive health concerns are rising across India, driven by fast-paced lifestyles, unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary work routines. Despite the growing prevalence of digestive problems, awareness about serious gastrointestinal diseases such as colorectal cancer remains low.
To better understand how people interpret digestive symptoms and when they seek medical help, Merck Specialities Pvt. Ltd. supported a nationwide perception audit through the Lifestyle & Digestive Health Awareness Survey to understand how people interpret digestive symptoms such as irregular bowel movements, acidity, and blood in stool, identify awareness gaps and behavioural patterns that may delay early medical consultation and diagnosis.
The findings were shared at a press conference addressed by Dr. Poulami Basu, Consultant Medical & Hemato Oncologist, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Cancer Centre & Research Institute, Kolkata; Dr. Sudeep Das, HOD & Consultant Medical & Hemato Oncologist, Manipal Hospital, Kolkata; and Dr. Sanchayan Mandal, Consultant Medical & Hemato Oncologist, HCG Cancer Hospital, Kolkata, who emphasised the urgent need for greater awareness and timely medical consultation for digestive health symptoms.
Colorectal cancer is emerging as a growing health concern in India, driven by unhealthy diets, obesity, and low awareness about gut health. Although largely preventable and treatable when detected early, many cases are diagnosed late due to delayed screening and poor awareness of symptoms. March is observed globally as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and against this backdrop, the nationwide survey uncovered worrying trends in digestive health awareness and lifestyle habits.
The nationwide survey collected responses from 10,198 individuals aged between 25 and 65 years across 14 major Indian cities including Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Pune. The findings reveal several concerning patterns in digestive health behaviour and awareness. Over 80% of respondents self-medicate for digestive issues such as acidity, indigestion, or constipation instead of consulting a doctor. More than 65% of respondents reported experiencing irregular bowel movements. Over 50% consume outside or packaged food at least three times a week, with 28.1% eating outside almost daily. Only 45.2% reported exercising regularly, while 54.8% said they do not exercise at least three times a week. 39.9% reported tobacco consumption, which is a known risk factor for gastrointestinal diseases. Most importantly, over 80% of respondents were unaware that blood in stool can be an early warning sign of colorectal cancer.
As the campaign gathered momentum across Kolkata, the city-specific survey findings exposed a worrying lack of awareness around digestive health and colorectal cancer.
The city-specific analysis for Kolkata included 466 participants, comprising 228 female and 238 male respondents, across age groups 25–35 (96), 36–45 (170), 46–55 (136), and 55 years and above (64). The findings revealed that only 9.3% of respondents in Kolkata recognise blood in stool as a warning sign of colorectal cancer, indicating the lowest awareness among the surveyed cities. Equally concerning is the delay in seeking medical help. 91.9% of respondents said they delay visiting a doctor when bowel habits change, suggesting that many people ignore symptoms or wait for them to resolve on their own rather than seeking timely medical advice. Digestive symptoms were also widely reported in the city, with 75.7% of respondents experiencing irregular bowel movements. Lifestyle risk exposure remains high as well. 44.1% of respondents reported tobacco consumption.
Dr. Poulami Basu, Consultant Medical & Hemato Oncologist, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Cancer Centre & Research Institute, Kolkata, explained, “Colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum and often begins as small growths called polyps that can gradually become cancerous if untreated. Risk factors include unhealthy diets low in fibre, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, tobacco use, and age. Don’t miss symptoms such as persistent bowel habit changes, blood in stool, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss. Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when detected early through screening methods such as colonoscopy.”
Dr. Sudeep Das, HOD & Consultant Medical & Hemato Oncologist, Manipal Hospital, Kolkata said, “The survey findings show that many people ignore or misinterpret digestive symptoms such as blood in stool or persistent bowel irregularities. Instead of consulting a doctor, individuals often rely on home remedies or over-the-counter medicines.
This behaviour delays medical evaluation and reduces the chances of detecting colorectal cancer at an early and treatable stage. Dr. Sanchayan Mandal, Consultant Medical & Hemato Oncologist,
HCG Cancer Hospital, Kolkata highlighted that lifestyle habits play a major role in the rising incidence of colorectal cancer. He said, “Frequent consumption of processed or outside food, lack of physical activity,
tobacco use, and obesity can increase the risk. Adopting healthier habits such as a fibre-rich diet, regular exercise, avoiding tobacco, and undergoing routine screening can reduce the risk.
