Over 46 cr adolescents globally will be obese by 2030, face many health disorders: Lancet
New Delhi: The health of adolescents is at a tipping point, with more than 46 crore adolescents globally estimated to be obese and face several health and mental disorders by 2030, according to an analysis published by the Lancet Commission on Wednesday.
In the second analysis on adolescent health and well-being since 2016, the Commission estimates that by 2030, one-third of adolescents in high-income countries in Latin America, and the Middle East will be overweight, underscoring the shortcomings in combating adolescent obesity.
The analysis, based on data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease study, projects that 46.4 crore (or 464 million) adolescents globally will be overweight or obese by 2030 -- 143 million more than in 2015.
There will still be over 1 billion of the world's adolescents (aged 10–24 years) living in countries where preventable and treatable health problems like HIV/AIDS, early pregnancy, unsafe sex, depression, poor nutrition and injury collectively threaten the health and well-being of adolescents.
Notably, in 2030, 4.2 crore years of healthy life will be lost to mental disorders or suicide (20 lakh more than in 2015).
"The health and well-being of adolescents worldwide is at a tipping point, with mixed progress observed over the past three decades,' said Commission co-chair, Professor Sarah Baird, from George Washington University in the US.
"While tobacco and alcohol use has declined and participation in secondary and tertiary education has increased, overweight and obesity have risen by up to eight-fold in some countries in Africa and Asia over the past three decades, and there is a growing burden of poor adolescent mental health globally,' she added.
Further, the Commission also identified several significant new threats to adolescent health such as climate change and the shift toward a more digital world.
Today's adolescents are the first generation who will live their entire lives with the average annual global temperature that has consistently been 0.5 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels.
And by 2100, 1.9 billion adolescents will live in a world that is expected to warm to around 2.8 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, bringing catastrophic risks to their health such as heat-related illnesses, reduction in food and water quality and availability, and a rise in mental health conditions related to climate events.
The projections suggest that, without political will, policy initiatives, and financial investments, there will still be more than 1 billion adolescents living in multi-burden countries in 2030.
Baird urged for increasingly "investing in the health and well-being of young people' to safeguard the 'collective future'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- India Gazette
CAQM issues strict directions to curb landfill fires, open waste burning in NCR
New Delhi [India], June 3 (ANI): The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued comprehensive directions on Tuesday to tackle one of the 'major contributors' to air pollution- open burning of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), and curbing open biomass generating Particulate Matter and other harmful gaseous pollutants. According to a statement, the directions aim to eliminate fire incidents in Sanitary Landfill (SLF) sites, dumpsites, and open burning of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)/ biomass across the National Capital Region (NCR). The Commission has directed the concerned agencies in the NCR to take appropriate actions under two broad categories with a view to prevent fire incidents and resultant high levels of air pollution. The agencies are directed to manage legacy waste at SLF and dumpsites, and also to manage fresh generation of MSW to prevent fire incidents. According to the official statement, the agencies are required to carry our proper identification, categorization, demarcation and fire risk assessment of all SLFs and dumpsites located in Delhi-NCR. Extensive bio-mining and bio-remediation are to be carried out in landfills and dumpsites to 'liquidate the legacy waste as per the targeted timelines already submitted to the Supreme Court,' with the Delhi government and state governments to review the action plans. CCTV cameras are also to be installed at these sites, with appropriate fencing arrangements along the boundary. Installation of Methane Gas Detectors at the SLFs and dumpsite are also required so that high methane concentration areas are identified and preventive measures are taken. Similarly, other fire-fighting arrangements are to be made available at all sites, with period mock drills to be conducted too, including quarterly audits for Fire Safety and hazardous emissions. The workers at the site are to be provided with proper safety gear and personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for safe handling of legacy waste. For dealing with new waste, CAQM has directed that agencies ensure collection, segregation, transportation and processing of waste in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. There will be 'zero tolerance' towards burning of MSW at vulnerable points, intermediate dumps and collection centres, along with regular enforcement teams to be deployed for ensuring prevention of open burning of MSW. The CAQM directions also call for increasing the capacities of urban local bodies to process horticulture waste in parks, gardens, green belts, institutions, and roadside areas and intensifying collection during the autumn season. ZQM has also said that regular capacity-building programs should be incorporated for sanitation staff. 'All concerned agencies as mentioned under various statutes relating to solid waste management have been directed to ensure compliance with the Statutory Directions of the Commission,' CAQM's statement read. All State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have to submit a consolidated State wide report on prevention and control of sanitary landfill site and dumpsite fires and open Municipal Solid Waste/ Bio-mass burning in Delhi-NCR to the Commission in a prescribed format for the Quarterly Report, with the commission warning that non-compliance might invite penal action. (ANI)
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
In Kovai, tattoos trend, studios grow, yet no rules in sight
Coimbatore: Despite the absence of clear guidelines or regulations governing tattooing in Tamil Nadu, the demand for tattoos—especially among youngsters—has surged in recent years in Coimbatore, transforming it into a popular urban trend. Reflecting this rise, the number of tattoo studios in Coimbatore has more than doubled in the past three years—from around 40 in 2021 to more than 100 today. "A decade ago, there were barely 10 tattoo studios in the city. Now, they are as common as beauty parlours, with at least one on every commercial street. But how many of them follow hygiene standards or employ professional artists?" questioned Vaishnavi, founder of Yara Tattoos in the city. "At our studio, we ensure to use a fresh needle and ink before we begin tattooing," she said. Her clients are mostly working professionals in the age group of 22 to 30. "Many choose names of their partners, spouses, or parents inked. Women prefer butterflies, flowers, and birds, while men often opt for tribal designs. Portrait tattoos are usually done out of deep emotion—especially of deceased loved ones. Among religious tattoos, Lord Shiva and Murugan's Vel are the most sought-after, followed by crosses among Christians." she said. Tattoo artist A Gunasekar said a 500ml bottle of ink costs between ₹2,000 and ₹3,000, depending on the quality. "Small studios charge ₹200 to ₹300 per square inch, but to cut costs, some may reuse needles and ink—posing serious health risks. Professional studios charge at least ₹500 per square inch to ensure quality and hygiene." Meanwhile, health experts have expressed concerns about the safety and hygiene in tattooing practices. Dr V Arul Selvan, associate professor of medical gastroenterology at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, warned that improper practices—especially needle reuse—can transmit dangerous blood-borne infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. "Symptoms of Hepatitis may appear only after significant liver damage. Patients can develop fatigue, jaundice, abdominal swelling, or even liver cancer in advanced stages," he explained. "Many patients, when asked about risk factors, recall getting a tattoo with reused needles." he said. He recommended the use of sterile, single-use needles and suggested that people with skin allergies undergo a patch test before getting tattooed. N Logu, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Voice, said, "Tattoo artists and studios must be licensed. Health department officials should regularly inspect studios for cleanliness and proper sterilization practices." District health officer Dr P Balusamy said the Directorate of Public Health has recently directed them to inspect tattoo studios. "We currently have no official data on how many studios are operating. Only after inspections will we know the actual numbers," he said. "I have instructed block medical officers to conduct inspections in rural areas, while inspections within city limits will be overseen by the city health officer," he added.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Isolated showers bring respite as day temperature drops 9 degrees below normal
Indore: Several parts of Indore experienced brief but intense rainfall on Tuesday morning, accompanied by gusty winds, offering much-needed relief from the rising summer temperature. The rain began around 10am in various parts of the city and lasted for 10–15 minutes, with wind gusts reaching up to 56 kmph, the highest recorded wind speed in Madhya Pradesh during the period. The downpour and strong winds led to a significant dip in temperature. The maximum temperature on Tuesday dropped to 31.3 degrees Celsius, a notable 9 degrees below normal, compared to 34.6 degrees Celsius on Monday. The minimum temperature was recorded at 24.9 degrees Celsius, one degree below average. The temperature at 8:30 am was 27.8 degrees Celsius with 66% relative humidity. By 5:30 pm, the temperature stood at 28.6 degrees Celsius, with 63% humidity following rainfall in the evening. Winds continued to blow from the west at a speed of 27 kmph during the day, dropping to 6 kmph in the evening. Indore wasn't alone in experiencing rainfall. Showers were also reported in Ujjain, Neemuch, Dhar, Khargone, and Mandsaur districts. Notably, Khargone received nearly 25 mm of rain, leading to waterlogging in the local grain market, causing damage to maize stock. In Neemuch's Jawad region, heavy rainfall over two hours caused the Morvan stream to overflow. In Dhar, even short spells of rain resulted in water accumulation on roads and gusty winds disrupting daily activities. The IMD has issued a rain and thunderstorm alert for several districts including Indore, Jhabua, Alirajpur, and Dhar. Winds ranging from 40 to 60 kmph are expected in parts of Indore, Ujjain, Mandsaur, and adjoining districts over the next 24 hours. As per meteorologists, monsoon activity continues to progress gradually, with the northern limit of monsoon currently reaching up to Ahilyanagar and beyond. No major temperature change is forecast for the next two days, after which temperatures may rise by 2 to 3 degrees.
