I have less human contact than during Covid: Bengaluru nutritionist reveals

A Bengaluru nutritionist said she now experiences less human contact than during Covid. Her account has drawn attention to research linking persistent loneliness with mental and physical health risks.Feeling lonely despite being surrounded by people? Your health could pay the price. (AI-generated image)You can live in one of the busiest cities in the country, travel through crowded roads every day, work with dozens of people and still feel like you barely have anyone to talk to.That is the reality highlighted by a Bengaluru nutritionist who recently spoke about experiencing less human contact than she did during Covid. While her experience is personal, it raises a much larger health question: what happens to our body and mind when meaningful human connection becomes increasingly rare?Loneliness is often treated as something that affects only emotional wellbeing. But growing research suggests that the impact can go much further. The World Health Organisation has now recognised social connection as an important public health issue. According to its Commission on Social Connection, around one in six people globally experience loneliness. The problem is particularly common among younger people, with about one in five adolescents and young adults reporting loneliness.WHAT THE BENGALURU VIDEO HIGHLIGHTSThe Bengaluru nutritionist’s experience reflects a situation that can be difficult to identify from the outside. A person may have colleagues, neighbours, friends on social media and hundreds of contacts on their phone, yet still lack meaningful conversations and close relationships.This is important because loneliness is not simply the same as being physically alone. A person can spend time alone and feel perfectly comfortable, while another person can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely. The distinction between being alone and feeling alone is therefore central to understanding the health impact of loneliness.LONELINESS IS NOW BEING TREATED AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUEThe WHO says loneliness and social isolation are widespread across countries and age groups. Its 2025 report describes their effects on health and wellbeing as serious but under-recognised.According to the WHO, loneliness and social isolation are associated with several health problems, including depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The organisation also links poor social connections with reduced quality of life and shorter lifespan.The WHO estimates that loneliness is associated with around 871,000 deaths every year, equivalent to roughly 100 deaths an hour. These figures describe population-level associations and should not be interpreted as meaning that loneliness alone directly causes every death.CAN LONELINESS AFFECT YOUR HEART?One of the strongest health concerns around loneliness is cardiovascular health.A large 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis examined 90 prospective cohort studies involving more than two million people. It found that both social isolation and loneliness were associated with a higher risk of death from all causes. Social isolation was also associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality.Another systematic review looked specifically at people who already had cardiovascular disease. It found that loneliness, social isolation and living alone were associated with premature mortality in this group, although the researchers also pointed to differences between studies and possible publication bias.This does not mean that loneliness directly causes heart disease in every individual. Much of the evidence comes from observational studies, which can identify associations but cannot always establish cause and effect.THE MENTAL HEALTH CONNECTIONThe mental health link is more intuitive, but it is also an important part of the wider picture.Persistent loneliness can coexist with depression and anxiety, and the WHO identifies these among the health outcomes associated with loneliness and social isolation.The problem can also become self-reinforcing. Someone who feels lonely may withdraw from social situations, which can reduce opportunities to build relationships and potentially deepen the feeling of isolation.This is why loneliness should not simply be dismissed as a temporary mood or a lack of social activity.YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALSO AT RISKLoneliness is often associated with older adults, but WHO data show that younger people report high levels of loneliness too. Around 21% of adolescents and young adults report feeling lonely, according to WHO estimates.This makes the issue particularly relevant in cities where young people frequently move away from their families for education and work.Long working hours, commuting, relocation, limited face-to-face interaction and heavy reliance on digital communication can all change how people maintain relationships.BEING ONLINE DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN BEING CONNECTEDModern technology has made communication easier than ever. People can message friends instantly, join online communities and remain connected to people living thousands of kilometres away.But digital contact does not necessarily replace meaningful social connection.The WHO's work on social connection also points to broader changes such as urbanisation and digital transformation as factors shaping how people interact.The Bengaluru experience, therefore, fits into a much bigger conversation about what it means to be socially connected in modern cities.WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO ABOUT LONELINESS?The answer is not necessarily to have hundreds of friends or spend every day surrounded by people.Regular meaningful interaction can be more important than the number of people someone knows. Staying in touch with family, meeting friends in person, participating in community activities or developing shared interests can create opportunities for stronger social connections.The WHO also highlights community programmes, public awareness, policies and relationship-based approaches as possible ways to strengthen social connections.The Bengaluru nutritionist’s experience is ultimately not just about Bengaluru or one person's social life. It reflects a wider problem that can remain invisible in increasingly busy cities.A person can have a packed calendar, hundreds of online connections and people around them every day, yet still experience loneliness.And research increasingly suggests that this matters for health.Loneliness should therefore not be viewed only as a personal or emotional problem. It is becoming an important part of the conversation around mental health, cardiovascular health, chronic disease and overall wellbeing.The important takeaway is not that being alone is dangerous. Time alone can be healthy and restorative. The concern is persistent loneliness and social disconnection, particularly when they begin affecting a person's wellbeing and everyday life.- EndsPublished By: Smarica PantPublished On: Aug 18, 2026 12:28 IST