Latest news with #HealthyIndia
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Diet is both cause and cure for MASLD, a liver condition: experts at The Hindu-Naruvi event
As against a 30% global incidence, 40% of the Indian population is affected by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a liver condition that remains a silent pandemic. Gastroenterologists on Sunday (June 8, 2025) discussed this disease linked to lifestyle at The Hindu-Naruvi Hospitals webinar series under the 'Healthy India Happy India' initiative. Experts emphasised that weight reduction is the key to treating this non-alcoholic fatty liver condition triggered by unhealthy lifestyle and metabolic risk factors such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Speaking at the webinar on MASLD, Ashok Chacko, senior consultant and head, Department of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at the Naruvi Hospitals, said the liver condition largely remains undiagnosed in 53% of Indian population who are at higher risk due to co-morbidities, because there are hardly any symptoms till the liver fails. 'Fatigue or tiredness and a mild pain on the right side of the abdomen could be the only early symptoms and often ignored. MASLD is a lifestyle disease caused due to increased intake of food and decreased exercise, and co-morbidities impact the disease progression,' he said. Though the disease is static or reversed in 80% to 85% cases, MASLD is not harmless and cannot be ignored. Prof. Chacko said 15% of all patients develop steatotic hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), which takes seven years to develop, and 5% develop liver cirrhosis, which takes another 25 years. 'A few also get liver cancer but due to the long timespan and lack of symptoms, people neglect it,' he said. Screening must Referring to common doubts and concerns about fatty liver and determining the risk of developing complications, R.S. Arun, Head of Medical Gastroenterology, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, said targeted screening of those with high risk factors, and surveillance of disease progression helped in dealing with complications. He recommended blood tests and ultrasound every six months, and a non-invasive fibroscan every one to three years. He reiterated that every person living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, hypertension, high lipid profile, elevated liver enzymes, family history of heart disease and liver cirrhosis should undergo regular check-ups. While the treatment of MASLD starts with managing the risk factors, maintaining ideal weight and healthy lifestyle with nutrient-dense diet, adequate sleep, hydration, and following an exercise prescription is the key to reversing fatty liver, said Rabindranath E., consultant in medical gastroenterology with Naruvi Hospitals, Vellore. Diet is both the cause and cure for MASLD, he said. The mantra is to reduce the portion size and calories, and stick to a protein-rich, low-carb diet. 'Consistency in physical activity such as walking, jogging, cycling and swimming for at least 12 weeks will start reaping benefits,' said Dr. Rabindranath. He also recommended quitting smoking and alcohol, and following customised and intermittent fasting to reduce liver fat. 'But do so after consulting a doctor if you have advanced liver disease or other co-morbidities to ensure safety,' he said. This webinar can be viewed at
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
‘Children are unique, not copies of their parents'
There is no alternative to a balanced diet, good sleep, and physical activity in raising a happy, normal, and active child, doctors underlined at a webinar on 'How to raise a healthy child' in Vellore on Sunday (May 25, 2025). The webinar, organised by The Hindu in collaboration with Naruvi Hospitals, Vellore, was the 11th edition in a series of 15 under the 'Healthy India Happy India' initiative to inspire and promote well-being. Focussing on child health, and the development of newborns to adolescents, the panellists highlighted the importance of prioritising nutrition, monitoring growth and milestones in different age groups, and positive parenting skills to enable children to blossom into happy and confident youngsters. Delivering a talk on maternal health and healthy newborns, Murugesan A., Assistant Professor in the Department of Neonatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, said parents should make use of the Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card, and guidelines that are available online in local languages, free of cost. He said 90% of all pregnancies in India were normal and uneventful, posing no problem to the mother and child, and therefore, all that parents and families needed to do was to stay healthy. 'The MCP card designed by the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, and Women and Child Development is a valuable but underused tool,' Dr. Murugesan said, adding, 'It carries pictorial documentation of what needs to be done in each month of pregnancy and the newborn's growth, detailing on vaccines and immunisation, breastfeeding and nutrition. Every family should utilise this resource.' 'Every child is unique and parents have an immense influence on their development,' Sonia Mary Kurian, head of the Department of Paediatrics at Naruvi Hospitals, Vellore, said. Stating that a child's health was a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, she explained the necessity for introducing different food groups to a child after six months of exclusive breastfeeding. 'A mother can breastfeed a child up to two years age along with other weaning foods but if a child is bottle-fed longer, they don't get enough nutrients from milk alone, and run the risk of becoming obese and getting blood pressure and diabetes later in life,' Dr. Kurian warned. She advised parents to watch out for delayed milestones in their babies from two months to three years. These could include delayed walking and talking, lack of visual fixation and social smiles, no head control, lack of response to sounds and objects, and unintelligible speech and gestures. V. Nagarajan, consultant paediatrician at Naruvi Hospitals, Vellore spoke about the cognitive, physical and psychological development in 10- to 19-year-olds. He said anaemia, anxiety disorders, and overweight were commonly seen in the adolescence years, and it was for the parents to understand their child and provide a safe, loving and supporting environment to help them grow into independent and confident young people. 'There is a lack of awareness about adolescent health and a stigma to reach out for professional health,' Dr. Nagarajan pointed out. 'Adolescence is an age when they will be rebels. Parents themselves need to practice healthy habits and guide them by being role models to their children,' he said. 'Communicate and spend time with your children. Offer them real-world alternatives with meaningful learning,' Dr. Nagarajan said.
