The foundation of overall wellness is based on digestive health or gut health, which not only influences physical well-being but also supports the well-being of emotional and mental health. The digestive system assists in absorbing the essential nutrients that improve the functions of the human body and supports improved health outcomes in the long term. Every year, the World Gastroenterology Organisation(WGO) observes the 29th of May as the World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) with the arrangement of a global public health campaign. WDHD was introduced to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the foundation of the World Gastroenterology Organisation. The WGO has been recognised as a federation of four Regional Associations of gastroenterology and more than 100 Member Societies, which represent more than 60000 individual members worldwide. The purpose of celebrating World Digestive Health Day is to spread awareness regarding the multifaceted impacts of digestive disorders and diseases along with their prevalence, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Simply, it aims to promote the improvement of gut health and its effect on overall well-being.
World Digestive Health Day 2025 highlights the theme “Nourish to Flourish,” focusing on gut health through diet. Understanding and incorporating prebiotics and probiotics supports digestion, immunity, and overall wellness by balancing the gut microbiome. #Health… pic.twitter.com/RUkea54eKy
— Hook (@hookonline_) May 29, 2025
What is gut health?
Gut health focuses on the improvement of the overall functioning of the digestive system, including the breakdown of foods, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of waste. Gut health also involves the complex ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms, which includes viruses, bacteria, and fungi, together called the gut microbiome. These microorganisms are found to be good for health, leading to the improvement of multifaceted aspects of health, including immunity, nutrient absorption, digestion, and also mental health.
Most of the microorganisms which are present in the guts of the human body have a close relationship with human beings. The relationship benefits both the microorganisms and human beings. Microorganisms get access to food and shelter from the human body, and in exchange, they help in improving the digestive system of the human body. Gut health also helps in controlling the harmful microbes.
The gut microbiome plays an active role in breaking down dietary fibres and complex carbohydrates. As a result, certain short-chain fatty acids are produced as byproducts, which are essential nutrients for the human body. Gut microbiome also supports the release of enzymes, which are important for the synthesis of multiple vitamins like B12, B1, B9 and K. However, some of the microbes can be harmful, and disruption in the microbiome balance, known as dysbiosis, can lead to an increased risk of digestive diseases.
The theme of World Digestive Health Day 2025
This year, the theme for WDHD 2025 was “Your Digestive Health: Nourish to Flourish”. This year’s theme provides emphasis on the significance of nourishment of digestive health through focusing on balanced diets, hydration and healthy eating habits that promote overall well-being. The 2025 campaign of WDHD also has sent invitations to people from all levels of society to engage in conversations and share their different perspectives regarding digestive health. The ultimate goal was to promote preventive care, early detection, and practical solutions for the issues related to digestive health to create a healthier future for every individual.
This year’s theme for the World Digestive Health Day also asked the people to join the global public health campaign regarding digestive health on social media through the use of hashtags like #NourishToFlourish and #WDHD2025. People were also asked to explore the website of WDHD to gain access to the comprehensive resources supporting their journey towards improved digestive health.
Previous year themes for World Digestive Health Day
| Year | Theme |
| WDHD 2015 | Heartburn: A Global Perspective |
| WDHD 2016 | Diet and the Gut: Your Diet and Gut Health |
| WDHD 2017 | Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Navigating Evolving Therapies in an Evolving Disease |
| WDHD 2018 | Viral Hepatitis, B and C: Lift the Global Burden |
| WDHD 2019 | Early Diagnosis and Treatment of GI Cancer |
| WDHD 2020 | Gut Microbiome – A Global Perspective |
| WDHD 2021 | Obesity: An Ongoing Pandemic |
| WDHD 2022 | Colorectal Cancer Prevention: Getting Back on Track |
| WDHD 2023 | Your Digestive Health: A Healthy Gut From the Start |
| WDHD 2024 | Your Digestive Health: Make it a Priority |
Prevalence of digestive diseases
As per a 2023 study, in 2019, around 2.86 billion prevalent cases of digestive disorders were found to have occurred, which has led to the death of around 8 million people. The study obtained these results through the analysis of the insights from the Global Burden of Diseases study, which covered 204 nations and territories and 18 digestive diseases. According to the World Gastroenterology Organisation, which is regarded as the global guardian of digestive health, some of the most common digestive diseases and disorders include FGIDs (Functional gastrointestinal disorders), IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome), dyspepsia, and constipation. Other disorders which are indirectly related to the disruption in gut microbiome include anxiety, asthma, diabetes, colon cancer, depression, fatty liver disease, obesity, liver cancer and pancreatic cancer.
Tips for the improvement of gut health
A healthy gut ensures proper digestion, boosts immunity and improves physical and cognitive health. However, the unhealthy lifestyle and busy work schedules in today’s fast-paced world are negatively impacting the gut health of human beings. In this regard, focusing on some of the habits in daily life can help individuals to improve their digestive health.
Sufficient quality sleep is essential for improving health outcomes and digestive functions. There is a need to ensure a consistent sleep schedule to support the circadian rhythm and gut microbiome of the human body. An adult individual needs 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep each night for the proper functioning of their human body. Some of the habits which can enhance the quality of sleep include avoidance of caffeine late in the day, creating a structured sleep routine, and making darkness while sleeping.
Individuals are required to drink sufficient water throughout the day to stay hydrated, prevent constipation, and improve nutrition absorption and digestion. A healthy adult man needs to drink around 3.7 litres of water per day, while a woman needs to drink about 2.7 litres of water per day.
For increasing healthy gut bacteria, individuals need to focus on eating adequate foods rich in prebiotic fibres. These can include a variety of fruits like onions and bananas, vegetables, oats, seeds, legumes, and asparagus. Fermented foods like kimchi, yoghurt, tempeh, and kefir are also found to be recognised as good sources of prebiotics. The supplements for prebiotics can also be taken to improve gut health.
Indian government initiatives for ensuring nutrition equity
Through the food security programs, the Indian government focuses on a diverse range of initiatives to deal with malnutrition problems across different demographic segments of India. For example, the PM POSHAN Scheme in India seeks to improve key nutrition parameters among children and women. Towards this scheme, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has approved the financial outlay of Rs 31733.17 crore from the State Government and UT administrations and Rs 54061.73 crore from the Central Government.
