No more junk food in Maharashtra schools

The government of Maharashtra has banned sale of junk food in school canteens. This is based on the recommendations the Centre that was issued more than two years ago. Schools should not sell food in the `High in Fat, Salt and Sugar' (HFSS) category but should go in for healthy alternatives in order to check childhood obesity and related diseases.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 9 May 2017.

The alternatives that have been suggested are chapatis, rice, vegetables and pulses, rajma, wheat upma, khichdi, payasam, idli and vada sambar, coconut water, lemonade and jaljeera. The government resolution (GR) that bans junk food in schools would include vendors who sell prepackaged or pre-cooked food on campus during breaks. Food in the category of HFSS (High in Fat, Salt and Sugar) lead to obesity, diabetes, and dental and heart problems and schools have been asked to create awareness among children about healthy eating.


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Air India cracks the whip on obesity - grounds 57 cabin crew members

Air India has cracked the whip on obesity and has grounded 57 cabin crew members - most of them are air hostesses. Unless they can get back in shape quickly, they will be assigned ground jobs permanently and a ground job means loss of flying allowance which varies between Rs 35,000 and Rs 50,000 a month.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 20 January 2017.

As indicated by the airline, these crew members had a higher-than-permitted body mass index (BMI, the ratio of weight and height of an individual) and have been asked to lose weight. They hve been given deadlines and, since they could not meet the deadlines, they were assigned ground jobs.
Overweight cabin crew are declared temporarily unfit for six months. If they do not meet the BMI requirements in 18 months, they are termed permanently unfit.
More than two years ago, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had introduced strict requirements for cabin crew's weight, vision and hearing. Under the guidelines, the ideal BMI for a male cabin crew is 18-25 while it is 18-22 for female crew.


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Hyderabadi biryani is delicious but dangerous - consume in limited doses

A survey conducted by the National Family Health Survey-4 of 766 households consisting of 830 women has revealed that 47.9% Hyderabadi women in the 14-49 age-group were obese. It could be attributed to Hyderabad's iconic biryani and high-calorie cuisine.
Such food is addictive, but is turning out to be a recipe for doom for a majority of city women. They gorge on the delicacies, but lack exercise. Binge eating without exercise have made them the most obese in the country - they have overtaken their counterparts in other Indian cities on the BMI index.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 17 December 2016.

The survey shows that women of Hyderabad have beaten men on the obesity chart - only 33.7% men surveyed in the city were found obese. (Those with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 25 kgm2 are termed overweight). When compared to other cities it is seen that obesity among women is 40.7% in Kolkata, 34% in Mumbai, 33.6% in Chennai and 33.4% in Bengaluru.
The study feels that a portion of the blame can be attributed to easy access to junk food accompanied by a sedentary lifestyle. They love to order tasty unhealthy food or get a cab at the doorstep instead of walking. The consequences are disastrous as obesity is a getaway to diseases like diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, lung disorders and early arthritis. What's worse, there are no effective medication to reduce weight.


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Kerala exempts dosa from fat tax which will remain for burgers, tacos, pasta, doughnuts and patties

Kerala had imposed a 'fat tax' of 14.5% on certain eatables to curb consumption of junk food. The dosa, one of south India’s beloved snacks, has now been exempted from this proposed ‘fat tax,’ but it will remain for fast foods like pizzas, burgers etcetera.
This has been reported in indianexpress.com dated 11 November 2016.

It may be recalled that the decision to impose a 14.5% ‘fat tax’ had been made by the state’s finance minister in July. It was the first time any government in the country has decided to impose such a fat tax in a bid to discourage consumption of food that may lead to obesity. Of course, countries like Denmark had introduced such moves, but it was withdrawn within a year due to public backlash.
Along with the 'fat tax', a 5% tax was also proposed on coconut oil with its repercussions likely to be severe in the state.
However, it has now been clarified that the 'fat tax' will be imposed only on products like burgers, tacos, pasta, doughnuts and patties, leaving out dosas, a most common breakfast dish in the state. The exemption has been extended to products made by prisoners as well because many prisons in Kerala have received praise for churning out good quality food products through prisoners who get paid through the program as well.
Incidentally, the newly installed LDF government in the state has complained that the coffers are largely empty because of massive corruption and mismanagement of funds in the earlier Congress-led regime and the imposition of the fat tax was an attempt to bolster finances of the state.


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WHO wants governments to increase tax on sugary drinks to check obesity

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is keen to fight global obesity and have said that Governments should tax sugary drinks to fight the global epidemics of obesity and diabetes. In its opinion, a 20 per cent price increase could reduce consumption of sweet drinks by the same proportion.
That is the message of WHO on World Obesity Day.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 12 October 2016.

WHO has indicated that drinking fewer calorific sweet drinks is the best way to curb excessive weight and prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes. In addiction, fat and salt in processed foods are also at fault.
As per statistics, obesity has more than doubled worldwide between 1980 and 2014 and 11 per cent of men and 15 per cent of women are classified as obese. That works out to more than 500 million people. An estimated 42 million children under the age 5 were overweight or obese in 2015 - that is an increase of about 11 million over 15 years.
An example of what increase in tax can do Mexico. It had a tax rise in 2014 of 10 percent and it resulted in a 6 percent drop in purchases by year-end. In the opinion of WHO, people need to roughly halve the amount of sugar they consume in order to reduce risks of obesity and tooth decay.


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Mango is a superfood - it can control obesity

Till now, grapefruit and pineapple were believed to help people lose weight and, scientists have now added mango to the list because it help to stop obesity and type 2 diabetes. These are the findings of a research commissioned by the National Mango Board which promotes consumption of the fruit in the US.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 12 September 2016.

The study has revealed that eating the superfood can prevent the loss of beneficial gut bacteria which can be caused by a high-fat diet. The specific bacteria in the intestinal tract may play a role in obesity and obesity-related complications, such as type 2 diabetes.
The study was undertaken at Oklahoma State University and, 60 mice were put in one of four dietary treatment groups for 12 weeks. As a professor involved in the study has said - mango is a good source of fibre and has been reported in previous studies to have anti-obesogenic, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory properties. Adding mango to the diet may help maintain and regulate gut health and levels of beneficial bacteria levels.
The tropical fruit native to southern Asia has various health-boosting properties. It contains compounds that display anti-inflammatory activities with its high fibre-content aiding digestion. One cup of mango contains antioxidants and over 20 different vitamins and minerals and provides a good source of fibre.


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Tackle the obesity crisis by outdoor activities like gardening

Doctors are prescribing outdoor activities like gardening and countryside strolls to help tackle the obesity crisis. These 'green prescriptions' of physical activities for overweight people could help them become more active. Instead of just prescribing medicines, doctors should try to persuade them to get outdoors.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 7 September 2016.

Based on a recent survey of patients in Britain who were given green prescriptions, it has been found that 72 per cent noticed positive changes to their health, 67 per cent improved their diet and more than half felt stronger and fitter. A similar program in New Zealand has been running since 1998, where it has been used by 80 per cent of doctors.
Studies have revealed that regular gardening can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and obesity. Moreover, it improves balance and helps to prevent falls in older people - this is a major problem with the aged.


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Youth in Delhi are obese due to alcohol, junk food and carefree city lifestyle

A study has discovered that the youth of Delhi are obese and many of them do not want to admit it. Alcohol, junk food and carefree city lifestyle are pushing these youths in Delhi and neighboring regions towards obesity and, the worst part is that, a majority of them do not consider it as a disorder or are even aware of the health risks it entails.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 4 September 2016.

The study was conducted by a third-party on behalf of Max Healthcare across all zones of Delhi and NCR in order to investigate attitudes and experiences of general Delhi population towards obesity and weight-loss surgery. The study covered 1,000 people from Delhi and neighboring region, in the age group of 20-45 over the last one month.
The survey revealed that over 80 per cent of the respondents (both men and women) said they had a Body-Mass Index (BMI) of over 25 kg/sq m, but only about 21 per cent considered themselves as obese or overweight. The normal limit for BMI (body weight/height squared) is 22.5 kg/sq m but, youth in Delhi marked themselves as "not obese" eve when the BMI showed 27.5.
This is attributed to alcohol, and junk food which has become part of the carefree urban lifestyle. And, the reason of worry is that majority of the respondents (70 per cent) did not know that hypertension is associated with obesity, or that it could trigger diabetes. Moreover, 65.4 per cent men as against 73.6 per cent women didn't know that obesity could lead to joint problems, 93.5 per cent men versus 76.8 per cent women didn't know about kidney problems with obesity. And, 50 per cent men versus 63 per cent women agreed that obesity can be a cause for infidelity in a relationship.


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Pokémon Go is good for children because it brings them outdoors

Pokémon Go is a virtual reality based game that has taken the world by storm - it encourages the players to go outdoors and walk, run and discover the old-fashioned joy of playing outside. As a mother Dr Margaret McCartney, a GP, has said - this mobile phone-based virtual reality game can help make children fitter by getting them out of the house and helps to combat depression, obesity and diabetes.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 10 August 2016.

Dr Margaret McCartney, writing in the British Medical Journal, has expressed her opinion that Pokemon Go craze has led to the streets around her home becoming a ‘reclaimed playground in which to have some interconnected fun’. She has explained in the app, players hunt virtual creatures in train stations, parks and other real-life locations and, such hunting encourages walking.
Unfortunately, it is not marketed as a health app but as a video game, hence, it should reach out to an audience that conventional health apps may miss. She accompanies her eight-year-old son ‘for miles’ as he plays Pokemon Go and the game may help children to play outside again.
However, caution must be exercised because the game draws the players to real places, making it easy for criminals to spot congregation points. There have been reports that teenagers in London were robbed of their phones at gunpoint and American players have been involved in real shootouts.


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Study finds that parents are to blame for obesity in children

A new study carried out by commissioned by the Infant and Toddler Forum (ITF) has found that almost one in eight children are regularly overfed and is a warning on child obesity. The study has revealed that 79% of children aged one to four are often given more than the recommended portion size for their age. And, a further one in 10 parents regularly serve adult-sized portions of popular meals to their children.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 5 July 2016.

The ITF has warned that routinely overfeeding children actually overrides their natural ability to regulate food intake which, in turn, increases their chances of becoming obese in later life. Toddlers are usually better than older children and adults at regulating their food intake. This is because they usually only eat what they need and do not overeat. However, portion size is critical.
The study asked 1,000 parents to look at pictures of popular meals and select the portion sizes they give to their children. They were also asked the frequency of giving their children certain foods and snacks. The study revealed that 10% of respondents serve their children close to an adult-size portion of spaghetti bolognese or cheese sandwiches. Another 10% of parents give snack portions that are too high, with more than a third of parents giving young children a whole bag of crisps - this is nearly twice the recommended amount.
As to drinks, the study found that 65% of parents routinely offered too much squash or fruit juice.


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Environmental pollution from exhaust gases lead to one in three heart strokes

A new research undertaken by New Zealand has shown that almost one in three strokes are triggered by air pollution. The worldwide study has said that the environmental hazard is a major reason of the leading causes of death for the first time. Air pollution, both inside from cooking fires and outside from traffic fumes, is ranked among the top ten causes of stroke. This is apart from smoking, high blood pressure and obesity.
In 2013, 17 per cent of global stroke cases were attributed to environmental air pollution as revealed by the Lancet Neurology study.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 10 June 2016.

It seems microscopic particles, much of which is generated by diesel exhausts, have resulted in clotting of arteries, which can lead to a stroke. Incidentally, stroke claims six million lives every year and, as a result, many survivors suffer paralysis, speech problems and personality changes.
The New Zealand-led research has analyzed data from 188 countries to estimate the proportion of strokes that could be avoided if certain risks were avoided. It has concluded that 70 per cent of strokes could be prevented by lifestyle changes like giving up cigarettes, eating more fruit and vegetables and doing more exercise.
Overall, 30 per cent of of global disability associated with stroke is linked to air pollution and this is especially high in developing countries where the burden is 33.7 per cent compared to 10.2 per cent in developed countries. In low and middle-income nations in Asia and Africa, almost a fifth of stroke burden was attributed to household air pollution. However, in China and India, a similar percentage was blamed on outside air pollution.


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Study shows that there is no link between obesity and intake of fat

If the latest study is to be believed, it is now high time that we change our age-old concept that intake of fats leads to obesity. That is what we have been told for years - namely, we should cut down on the amount of fat we eat. That, in turn, has inspired many people to go in for low-fat diets.
However, the concept is undergoing changes because, a report indicates that such eating patterns are having "disastrous health consequences". The National Obesity Forum and the Public Health Collaboration have called for a "major overhaul" of dietary guidelines and have accused major public health bodies of colluding with the food industry.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 23 May 2016.

The report wants a return to "whole foods" like dairy, fish and meat, as well as high fat healthy foods like avocados - their message is "eating fat does not make you fat". The logic is saturated fats do not cause heart disease and full fat dairy foods - including milk, yoghurt and cheese - can, in fact, protect the heart. In their opinion, low-fat diets and snacking between meals are responsible for Britain's growing obesity crisis and their suggestion is to avoid processed foods labelled "low fat", "lite" or "low cholesterol".
They also suggest that people should stay away from sugar, stop counting calories and those with type two diabetes should eat a fat-rich diet instead of one dominated by carbohydrates. In the opinion of the authors, food science has been "corrupted by commercial influences" in a way that represents a "significant threat to public health".


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Bust the obesity timebomb with grapes and oranges

A research has concluded that oranges and grapes could be a key to fighting the obesity crisis because, chemicals present in these two humble fruits could, when combined, help combat diabetes and heart disease. This has been revealed by experts of Warwick University who have taken trans-resveratrol, a compound found in red grapes, and hesperetin, a substance in oranges, and combined them in a pill. That pill, in the opinion of scientists, could in the future offer a new treatment to fight the three killer diseases.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 13 May 2016.

Professor Paul Thornally, who led the research, has indicated that this find is an incredibly exciting development and could have a massive impact on our ability to treat these diseases because apart from diabetes and heart disease it could take care of obesity.
When administered in tandem, the two compounds decreased blood glucose, improved the action of insulin and improved the health of arteries. However, these compounds should be taken in pharmaceutical doses. Otherwise, if consumed directly from oranges and red grapes, the average daily intake for a person would be about 10 litres of orange juice and grape juice.


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Obesity among Chinese kids is due to junk foods - findings of a 29-year-old survey

Obesity among Chinese kids is due to junk foods - these are the findings of a 29-year-old survey conducted on kids in China's eastern Shandong province. It has been revealed that 17 percent of boys younger than 19 were obese in 2014, and that of girls was nine percent - these are up from under one percent for both genders in 1985. Obviously, the researchers have raised the red flag hinting at an obesity explosion among children in rural China. This is attributed to a Western-style diet that is high in both sugar and carbohydrates.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 27 April 2016.

The data is based on six government surveys of some 28,000 rural school children (aged 7-18) in Shandong. It is seen that the percentage of overweight boys had grown from 0.7 percent to 16.4 percent, and girls from 1.5 percent to nearly 14 percent. The study had used different measures of Body Mass Index (BMI) for overweight and obesity as compared to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.
The experts of Shandong Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have indicated that China has experienced rapid socioeconomic and nutritional changes in the past 30 years. In China, people have got into the habit of eating more and are, also, less physically active than they were in the past. Moreover, the traditional Chinese diet has changed to embrace one that is high in fat and calories and low in fiber. A caution has been sounded that the popularity of the Western lifestyle will cost lives because of an escalation of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
In the opinion of WHO - being overweight brings about a major risk factor for heart disease apart from stroke, diabetes, and some cancers.


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Restaurants asked to give tap water free to its customers to check obesity

Restaurants have a habit of offering tap water to customers only when requested for and offer sugary drinks which leads to obesity - therefore, restaurants are being urged to "take responsibility" and offer tap water freely to families so they can they need not consume sugary drink.
It seems the existing trend is to offer tap water on request even though there is a legal requirement that licensed premises must provide it. This has been revealed in a survey for the Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 councils. As per the poll, eight out of 10 people usually drink tap water at home, but, when dining out, only a third do so.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 23 April 2016.

Other findings are - 15% of those who usually drink tap water at home never think of asking for water in cafes or restaurants, while 13% said it made them feel awkward. Therefore, the LGA wants the Government to use its forthcoming childhood obesity strategy to encourage restaurateurs to offer parents and children the choice of tap water.
Childhood obesity can be tackled by offering tap water to families. A glass of tap water should not be something one has to ask for but, it should be by default because water brings with it important health benefits and keeps people hydrated.
Children will take it as an alternative to a sugary drink, and the adults might take the tap water instead of another alcoholic drink.


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Walk to work or go by cycle and shed those kilos to ensure a long healthy life

Walking to work or going by bicycle and even taking public transport are all good habits when one needs to shed the kilos and live a long life - scrapping the car can reap huge health benefits to those who usually drive to work. These are the findings of a new research conducted on more than 150,000 British adults in the age group 40 to 69.
It was found that the average male cyclist weighed 5kg (11lbs) less than men who took their car. As for the women, those who cycled were typically 4.4kg (9.7lbs) lighter than their motoring counterparts. Cyclists also benefited from reduced body fat - male bikers had 2.75% less fat as compared to those who traveled by car, and women 3.26% less.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 17 March 2016.

The study was carried out by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine who also discovered that drivers were more likely to have a higher Body Mass Index than cyclists. As one of the researchers have indicated - many people live too far from their workplace for walking or cycling to be feasible. For them, physical activity involved in public transport can have an important effect.
In England and Wales, nearly two-thirds of the 23.7 million people regularly commute to work by car. And, in England, two-thirds of adults do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity. Incidentally, out of those who took part in the massive study, only 4% of men and 2% of women cycled to their office - or combined cycling and walking.
It has been recommended that those in mid-life should be encouraging to use public transport and go in for active commuting because mid-life is the period when obesity becomes an increasing problem.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Sugar is bad for health - how to reduce sugar intake

#diabetes #bloodsugar #obesity #health It is common knowledge that sugar is bad for health because it is not just poison for diabetics but also makes one obese. But, we cannot keep away from sweets and, it is no secret that all of us consume far more sugar than we should. More intake of sugar affects children and adults alike and, all of us want to cut out in intake of sugar.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 12 February 2016.

Apart from adding to ones weight, excess of sugar is bad for your teeth, liver, and has even been linked to some types of cancer. Unfortunately, plenty of sugar is hidden in so many of our kitchen cupboard favorites, and, in the opinion of experts, the secret lies in making simple changes to our eating habits and control the intake.
It seems it is possible to reduce your sugar intake by 30 per cent even while going in for homemade cakes, porridge and even peanut butter on toast. As an expert says - by swapping cereal for porridge and by using ginger in your baking and avoiding supposedly 'savoury' sauces, the results will be favorable.
- Swap sugary cereal for unsweetened porridge mixed with a handful of berries - it will cut your sugar intake by over 30 per cent
- Instead of sugary drinks go in for water or sugar-free drinks
- When making milkshakes use fresh fruit rather than powder for less added sugar
- At breakfast time enjoy toast with a savoury topping such as marmite or peanut butter instead of jam, honey or syrup
- Avoid hidden sources of sugar like processed soups, takeaways, pizza and savoury sauces
- Eat regularly because structured eating helps to ensure that your blood sugar levels do not go too low and cause sugar cravings
- Cut sugar in homemade bakes and cakes by adding vanilla, orange or lemon extract or ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg - A tasty hot drink can help to keep your mind off sugar.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Obesity leads to cardiovascular diseases - reduce weight, stay healthy

#cardiovasculardiseases #kolkata #health #obesity Obesity is the curse of today and twenty per cent of Indian adults are obese while India ranks third in terms of the number of obese people. Therefore, it is but natural that diseases to the heart are rampant in the country. Kolkata is no exception, especially among those below 40 years of age.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 6 February 2016.

The reason for increase of cardiovascular diseases in India in the decade between 2005 and 2015 is because of obesity, sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits and stress. These and other such important and relevant findings were shared by cardiologists on the first day of the 6th Bangla Interventional Therapeutics (BIT-2016) meet at Vedic Village on Friday.
The meet had more than 500 cardiologists from not only India but foreign countries like Bangladesh, South Africa, France, Bhutan, Nepal, the US and the UK. They will discuss trends, treatment methods and case studies. In the past, BIT meets had representatives from only Bangladesh and Bengal but, the scope has been extended to cover other countries as well.
BIT was set up in 2010 as a common platform to share knowledge and the first ever meet of BIT was held in Dhaka the next year. This year, experts from the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) of New York have joined to share their case studies and global trends. The importance cannot be overemphasized because patients are getting younger. Young women are also suffering from heart ailments. Hence, there is a need for a global education platform where doctors can teach doctors.


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Take care of the heart – a few dos and don’ts

#obesity #heart #health Thanks to reports and discussions in the media, it is common knowledge that taking of the heart is the best way to live a long life – it is the heart that ticks to show that we are alive and, hence, the more care you take of this vital organ, the better it is for you.
The World Health Organization has defined overweight and obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health and lead to the dreaded cardiovascular disease like heart disease and stroke. However, even a slight reduction in weight of 5 t0 10 per cent can reduce the risk of heart disease.

And, the best way to do this is to go in for healthier food choices apart from increased level of physical activity. For the dos in your diet go in for - fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, low fat dairy products, fatty fish (salmon, tuna), soya and soya products.
The don’ts - refined cereals, saturated fatty acids, processed and packaged foods, fatty meats (mutton, beef), fried and deep fried foods and, of course, smoking.
Read more here at this link.
Moreover, regular exercises is important to keep the muscles toned up and active – simple walking can do wonders. Cultivate the habit of walking up the stairs instead of using the elevator or walking down to the corner shop for some item instead of kicking the scooter. (Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Cancer linked to obesity could turn out to be the biggest killer in next decade

#obesity #cancer #heartdisease In the opinion of academics of Harvard University, cancer linked to obesity could turn out to be the biggest killer of the next decade. As it is, this condition is already to blame for up to 32,000 cancer deaths every year in the UK.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 30 May 2015.

The experts feel diet and exercise regimes should become ‘standard’ treatment for cancer along with the regular chemotherapy and surgery. Thy have warned that unless checked, the US and the UK obesity will cause more cancer deaths than smoking.
The warnings should not be taken lightly because overweight patients have high risk of developing cancer and also are far more likely to die. The WHO predicts that at present nearly 25% of adults in Britain are obese and this would increase to 33% by 2030.
Moreover, children faced a ‘rising tide’ of cancer, heart disease and ill health due to the effects of their obesity which needs to be checked and kept under control.
The researchers have indicated that obesity increases the risk of the most common types of tumors including breast, prostate, bowel, womb and cervical cancers.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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