Apollo SHINE Foundation, the not-for-profit arm of Apollo Hospitals, has launched Catch ‘Em Young, India’s largest college health initiative aimed at preventing and tackling the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among youth. The initiative was formally launched at the Women’s Christian College Centenary Hall, Nungambakkam, in the presence of Dr. Govi Chezhian, Hon’ble Minister for Education, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, and Dr. Ezhilan Naganathan, Hon’ble Member of the Legislative Assembly, Thousand Lights, Chennai.
The findings from SHINE’s decade-long college screenings have raised an urgent red flag. Nearly 42% of students screened were overweight or obese, 4.5% showed elevated blood pressure, 2.2% had high blood sugar levels, and one in ten students had high triglycerides. Alarmingly, 30% of students were found to be anemic, and central obesity was identified in 10% of them highlighting how poor diets, sedentary lifestyles, and stress are already impacting youth health.
Through Catch ‘Em Young, Apollo SHINE Foundation has set a target to screen one lakh college students this year. The program goes beyond BMI, blood sugar, and blood pressure to include parameters like waist circumference, hemoglobin, HbA1c, and triglycerides, enabling early identification of risks and guiding students toward preventive care.
Dr Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO, Apollo Hospitals said, "Our screenings have shown us that NCDs are no longer diseases of middle age, they are already present in college students. Through Catch ‘Em Young, we want to make preventive health awareness a part of campus culture, guiding young people toward healthier choices that can change the course of their lives."
Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals, said, "The rising incidence of non-communicable diseases among India’s youth is deeply concerning. Through the Catch ‘Em Young initiative, we are taking a vital step toward early screening, timely intervention, and sustained health awareness on college campuses. At Apollo, our vision has always been to build a healthier nation, and empowering young people with knowledge and preventive care is central to that mission."
For over ten years, Apollo SHINE Foundation has been running health clinics in schools and colleges across India, reaching more than one million students in Chennai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Kakinada, Trichy, and Vizag. As part of this mission, the Foundation has been conducting large-scale health screenings to identify early risks of NCDs among students. This pioneering initiative underscores Apollo’s continued commitment to early intervention, preventive healthcare, and nurturing a healthier generation of Indians.
