Health

According to the World Health Organization, 2.5 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight in 2022, including over 890 million adults who were living with obesity.  Obesity gives rise to several health complications, but some people living with the condition also face another challenge – the stigma that is associated with being overweight. Stemming from oversimplified notions of health and personal responsibility, weight stigma is fuelled by the assumption that obesity is merely a consequence of poor lifestyle choices. However, that is far from true. Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, Consultant Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgeon, MetaHeal Surgery Center, and Saifee, Apollo and Namaha Hospitals, Mumbai, explains, “Society often reduces obesity to a simplistic equation: eat less, move ...

As Maha Shivratri ends, the transition of the season from winter to spring and summer begins. As the country prepares for this change, some places like Mumbai are already experiencing hot weather, with the temperature soaring as high as 38 degrees Celsius. Amid the increasing heat and humidity, it is essential to keep yourself hydrated and include specific foods in your diet that can help keep the body cool. Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar took to Instagram and shared a video sharing three foods that can accomplish this purpose.           View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Rujuta Diwekar (@rujuta.diwekar) She recommends the following foods to include in your diet: Bel sherbet This is a...

India is witnessing a transition from the winter season to spring, with some places like Mumbai experiencing extremely high temperatures. With a change in seasons comes the necessity to take extra care of your health, including skin health. Fluctuations in temperature, humidity and environmental factors can stress your skin, leading to dryness, irritation and even breakouts. Adapting your skincare routine to seasonal transitions is important to keep your skin healthy and balanced throughout the year. Speaking to mid-day.com, Dr Kiran Sethi, dermatologist, author, and founder of Isya Aesthetics, shares four tips that can protect your skin from seasonal change, and help maintain its radiance. Choose a gentle cleanser and moisturise daily Select a sulfate-free cleanser enriched with glyce...

Gastric bacteria, which leaks around the stomach lining, plays a significant role in the onset of stomach cancer -- which has limited treatment options and poor survival rates, according to a study on Wednesday.  The study led by researchers from the University of Birmingham identified a crucial interaction between Helicobacter pylori and non-H. pylori bacteria in the pre-cancerous stage of gastric cancer. The results, published in the journal Helicobacter, could pave the way for a more effective treatment of pre-cancer. “We are excited about the potential of this observation to open a new avenue of research in the prevention of stomach cancer. It is possible that a simple antibiotic treatment could be administered to treat these bacteria. However, there is a lot more work to do,” said ...

Reducing the amount of oil intake, while increasing physical activity, as well as eating a balanced meal are crucial to fight the rising menace of obesity in our country, said experts on Tuesday.  This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday in his "Mann ki Baat" programme nominated 10 personalities to push the campaign against obesity in the country, as part of his `Fit India` initiative. Dr Naval Vikram, professor of Medicine, at AIIMS, New Delhi, said it`s high time to consider obesity very seriously, as its prevalence is increasing rapidly across the age groups and across the socio-economic status in the country. "Obesity is no longer a cosmetic problem. It now is a chronic persistent disease which leads to several other non-communicable diseases, like diabetes, hypertension...

While continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) may be of significant help to people living with diabetes, they may harm healthy adults by showing inaccurate results that can lead to unnecessary food restrictions, according to a study on Wednesday. CGMs were originally designed to help diabetics manage their blood sugar. It helps by tracking glycaemic index (GI) -- a measure of how quickly a food can make your blood sugar. However, these devices are now increasingly being used by health-conscious adults to track how different foods affect their glucose levels. The peer-reviewed research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, warns that CGMs could be overestimating blood sugar levels in healthy adults, leading to unnecessary dietary changes. “CGMs are fantastic tools for peop...

The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) on Tuesday said that it has made a groundbreaking discovery about the potential of mother’s milk in improving infant health. The study, published in the Food Chemistry journal, explores how fat globules in human milk can act as a natural carrier for probiotics and the research could pave the way for advanced baby formulas that not only provide nutrition but also support gut health. The study, led by Professor Kiran Ambatipudi from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, focuses on the Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM), a bioactive component of mother’s milk. The researchers found that this membrane can serve as a protective layer, ensuring that beneficial probiotic bacteria reach an infant’s gut safely. These probiotics ...

Working memory, which allows one to juggle multiple tasks at the same time, may have its limits, according to a new study published in the journal eLife. A learning process involving `chunking` or grouping related pieces of information, rather than capacity, is the real driver of working memory, according to co-author of the study, Aneri Soni, a graduate student at Brown University, US. The capacity of one`s working memory -- how many tasks can be performed simultaneously -- is considered to be limited. However, there are competing theories as to why or how this might be true, the researchers said. In this study, the team ran trials of everyday human tasks on a computer model of the basal ganglia and the thalamus -- brain regions relevant to the functioning of working memory. The model ...

Doctors in Navi Mumbai have successfully saved the life of a 33-year-old woman who became pregnant just seven months after a C-section delivery.  The patient had a history of complicated pregnancies, including an ectopic pregnancy, and her rare cornual ectopic pregnancy went unnoticed until a routine check-up.  Due to timely diagnosis and laparoscopic surgery, the team led by Dr Surabhi Siddhartha, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Motherhood Hospital in Kharghar, was able to address the cornual ectopic pregnancy, ultimately saving her life and preventing serious complications. Harshali Shriniwas Palsodkar, a 33-year-old IT professional and resident of Navi Mumbai, endured a challenging journey to motherhood. In 2020, she suffered a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, which led to the...

Caring for a sick child can be overwhelming for parents, especially when childhood illnesses like colds, fevers, and stomach bug cases are on the rise. The symptoms range from mild discomfort to more serious conditions requiring medical attention. With seasonal illnesses on the rise, it is the need of the hour for children to stay hydrated, eat home-cooked food, stay up-to-date with vaccinations, and maintain personal hygiene. Dr Sanjay Wazir, medical director (NCR)- Neonatology and Paediatrics, Motherhood Hospitals, Gurgaon said, “Currently, a large number of children are falling sick due to sudden weather changes, eating outside food, and poor sanitation. The child’s immune system is still developing, making them more susceptible to infections. 7 in 10 school-going children aged 5-12 co...