Nutritionist Khyati Rupani Is On A Mission To Make India Healthier

Khyati Rupani, founder of Balance Nutrition, won SheThePeople’s Digital Women Award 2024 under the Leadership category for her dedicated work at the forefront of the digital health revolution and reshaping the management of obesity, lifestyle issues, and chronic disorders.

With a core mission to make healthcare simple, accessible, and engaging for all, Balance Nutrition has enabled innovation and strategic moves, from corporate wellness programs to expanding its reach in Tier II and Tier III cities. The company ensures that the programs are not only theoretically sound but also practical, achievable, and results-focused. This commitment to excellence makes Balance Nutrition a dependable partner for those seeking sustainable and impactful health solutions.

What Ignited Khyati Rupani's Passion?

Receiving her Digital Women Award, Khyati Rupani shared the story and purpose behind Balance Nutrition. "I was always obese. I have done my masters in clinical nutrition, worked at a hospital dealing with liver cases and the like," she recounted, adding that she was diagnosed with PCOS at age 24. "After my marriage, at 26 years old when I was at 78 kgs, I was told I had to go through IVF. That's when I became a nutritionist."

Rupani researched immensely and made several lifestyle changes as she embarked on her health and weight loss journey. Today, the mom of a 15-year-old has found the formula to not just keep herself healthy but has also helped numerous other individuals get their fitness on track. Rupani said she is also an expert in specialised nutrition for women over 40.

"I'm sure many women here think, 'I have to cook for my child, my husband.' But if you plan your menu first and then settle everyone else, believe me, you all are going to be much better; not just weight-wise, but also health-wise."

On Women's Health

Speaking to SheThePeople at the event, Rupani shared how women's health needs have evolved over the years. "The requirements for women's health have changed because [many of us] are not at home doing the physical labour like sweeping, mopping, washing clothes, etc. There is also a lot of readily available food. So we have a lot of excess fat developing and leading to obesity, hormonal imbalances, etc."

"There is a dire need to be eating smartly. I'm not saying go to the Himalayas and eat healthy, but eat smart."

"[Older generation] of women thinking about cooking for the husband or in-laws. But now many of us have cooks or people who can help us. The only thing is, we have not adapted our mind. We don't get up 10 minutes early to pack our own lunchbox. We don't want to get into that 'mess'. So it is easier now than it was for our mothers but we still need to learn how to balance everything -- fun taste and nutrition."

In Conversation With Khyati Rupani

What roles do you play at Balance Nutrition, and what drives you toward this goal?

I am the founder of Balance Nutrition. My journey in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics has been deeply personal and professionally fulfilling. Starting as the youngest Chief Dietitian at Lilavati Hospital at 23, I authored Getting Rid of Obesity, which marked the beginning of my mission to address weight-related challenges.

My battle with PCOS, losing 30 kg, and achieving natural conception inspired the transformative programs we offer at Balance Nutrition. Over the past 18 years, I’ve worked on diverse medical conditions and led corporate health initiatives, including setting up kitchens for companies like ICICI Prudential. Winning awards like the Times SHE UnLTD motivates me to continue empowering individuals with sustainable health solutions, driven by resilience and a passion for better living.

How did you use digital platforms and tools to build your business?

At Balance Nutrition, technology is at the heart of our growth strategy, enabling us to reach and engage clients through an innovative digital presence. Our flagship feature, the BN Wallet, gamifies the weight loss journey by rewarding users with stars for completing activities and referring others, making the process interactive and enjoyable. Peer-to-peer motivation and curated content foster a supportive community, transforming health goals into shared achievements.

Alongside this, we maintain a 93% success rate by investing in expert dietitians and quality service delivery. By integrating technology with human expertise, we aim to create a dynamic, accessible, and impactful wellness ecosystem.

What does your business model look like?

Balance Nutrition is dedicated to addressing obesity and other lifestyle disorders like diabetes, cholesterol, PCOS, and thyroid issues in an engaging and easy manner. The idea stems from the personal journeys and experiences of the founders. Our online platform—website and mobile app—connects users with expert mentors for consultations, ensuring a seamless and interactive experience. 

On the backend, we’re developing advanced tech like a mentor CRM with tools for dietitians, including the Smart Dieter module, progress evaluation, and risk management. We are expanding to offer specialized programs for diabetes, thyroid, women’s health issues, and gastrointestinal, renal, and liver disorders, focusing on chronic health challenges.

What are the key challenges you faced in this journey?

The first constraint we faced when we launched was the lack of payment gateways for online service providers. While there are many now, four years ago, there were hardly any. The second difficulty was building the tech team that enabled us to develop a mobile application, which is the core of our business.

How do you envision your future with Balance Nutrition?

The future opportunity for Balance Nutrition is vast, given the growing health challenges worldwide, particularly in India. Obesity, PCOS, diabetes, high cholesterol, and thyroid disorders affect millions. In India, 100 million are obese, 1 in 5 women has PCOS, and 1 in 3 adults suffer from thyroid issues.

With a digital-first approach, Balance Nutrition is uniquely positioned to address these challenges. The rise in internet users and online engagement presents immense growth potential. Our digital solutions offer personalized, accessible care, especially for 2 crore Indians abroad, and we aim to reach 10-12% of this market, impacting over 200 million lives.