Lifestyle Illness in Bhutan

Over the past decade, Bhutan has experienced a marked rise in lifestyle-related health problems as traditional patterns of living give way to modern habits. This paper examines emerging non-communicable diseases and risk factors in Bhutan from ~2015–2025, drawing on government data, surveys, and academic studies. It reviews Bhutan’s traditional active, agrarian lifestyle and diet, then detail how rapid socio-economic development has altered lifestyles. Sedentary behaviour, processed diets, and other changes have led to increasing obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The causes of these shifts – urbanisation, globalisation, and changing socio-cultural norms – are explored. The paper analyses the geographical distribution of lifestyle diseases and the age groups affected. Health expenditure trends are reviewed, showing growing government spending on non-communicable disease prevention and treatment.