Latest news with #Lancet
Mint
a day ago
- Health
- Mint
Health facilities to display "Sugar and Oil" warning boards
New Delhi: Taking a leaf from schools and workplaces that have recently started displaying warning signs about high sugar and oil content in street food, the central government is planning to install these so-called 'oil and sugar boards' in hospitals, medical colleges and healthcare centres. The National Health Mission's (NHM) plan is part of a playbook to combat obesity and curtail unhealthy eating habits. An alarming recent report in the Lancet predicted obesity in India could jump from 180 million individuals in 2021 to 449 million by 2050, making it the country with the highest obesity burden globally after the US and China. Another Lancet study from 2022 revealed that India had 12.5 million obese children in 2022, a significant increase from 0.4 million in 1990. The Centre has asked the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to come up with an ideal nutrition diet for Indians and roll out a nationwide screening programme for measuring obesity among school children. 'Our nation is experiencing a rapid rise in obesity and associated lifestyle disorders, particularly in urban areas and among children. There is an urgent need to combat obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCD) through healthier habits and reduction in oil and sugar consumption," said a health ministry official in a letter to States/UTs, seen by Mint. "In view of this, States/UTs are requested to take proactive measures to ensure prominent display of 'oil and sugar boards' in health facilities such as Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Health and Wellness Centres), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), District Health Centres (DHCs) and sub-divisional and district offices and medical colleges,' the letter added. Beyond the new warning boards, the health ministry is implementing a multi-pronged approach to combat unhealthy eating, focusing heavily on sensitization and education at the community and school levels. The ministry has specifically called for school teachers and children to be educated on healthy diets and reduced sugar and oil intake. This will be integrated into existing health screening and counseling activities. The initiative extends to adolescents, with a directive to sensitize peer educators and healthcare providers at 'Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs)'. To amplify this message at the grassroots level, the government plans to leverage community engagement platforms under the National Health Mission (NHM). This includes utilizing women's groups, other civilian groups, and community platforms to conduct discussions and practical demonstrations on healthy cooking and dietary habits. This 'comprehensive strategy' aims to embed awareness about healthy eating into various facets of daily life, from schools to community gatherings. The ministry is also asking for more cooperation with the education and women and child development departments to take this initiative even further. Dr Rajeev R. Jayadevan, public health expert and past president of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Cochin, said that hospital canteen signboards currently are no different from those at a restaurant, simply listing items and prices. But the government is now rolling out a significant behaviour change strategy to change that. These new boards won't ban popular cultural foods; instead, they will highlight the hidden sugar and fat within them. The next crucial steps, according to Jayadevan, is to expand this initiative nationwide, integrate healthier food options and could lead to substantial long-term health benefits. 'Increased awareness about the dangers of excessive sugar and salt intake will significantly reduce the disease burden in the coming decades.' Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson remained unanswered.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Mumbai man booked for unleashing dog on minor boy
A disturbing incident occurred in Mumbai on Thursday (July 17, 2025) at around 10 p.m., when Mohammad Sohail Khan deliberately unleashed his pet dog on a minor boy, who was playing in a parked auto-rickshaw, according to Mumbai Police. The dog attacked the minor boy, biting him on the chin and hands, causing serious injuries. A video of the incident went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation. Lancet study estimates 3 in every 4 animal bites in India due to dogs Khan allegedly set his pet dog loose on minor boy without any provocation and the dog bit the child repeatedly. Instead of intervening, Khan was seen laughing and enjoying the incident. The boy sustained injuries to his chin and hands and was left mentally traumatised by the ordeal. "On July 17, at around 10:00 p.m. the complainant's minor son was playing in a parked rickshaw in the residential area when the accused, Mohammad Sohail Khan — an acquaintance from the same locality — deliberately released his brown-coloured pet dog. Owing to a lack of control and supervision, the dog bit the child on the chin, causing injury," said Mumbai Police. Based on the detailed statement of the complainant, an offence has been registered against Khan under Sections 291, 125, 125(a) of IPC (BNS) at Mankhurd Police Station. 3.17 lakh people sought treatment for dog bite cases in the State in 2024 A notice has been served to the accused under Section 35(3) of BNS. Earlier, on July 10, the Central Government aimed to eliminate Rabies by 2023. According to the study done by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), on Human rabies death and animal bite burden estimates in India, 2022-2023, more than 5,000 people die every year owing to dog bites. 'Nearly 9.1 million animal bites and 5,726 human rabies deaths due to dog bites are estimated to occur every year in India,' states a study done by ICMR-NIE. 'Eighty per cent of the dog bite victims reported taking at least one dose of the vaccination. In order to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2023, India must continue to fast-track its action through a focussed health approach,' states a study done by ICMR-NIE. The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, based on a release issued by the Ministry, mentioned that States/UTs have reported, as per the data reported on the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (Integrated Health Information Platform) portal under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, that 21,95,122 dog bite cases in India during Jan-Dec 2024.
Mint
2 days ago
- Health
- Mint
Lancet report calls out systemic corruption and inefficiencies at National Medical Commission
New Delhi: Lancet has criticized what it described as 'systemic corruption and inefficiencies' at the National Medical Commission (NMC) after a corruption scandal surfaced about India top medical education regulator. The prestigious medical journal's report was published on 19 July, raising concerns about the integrity of medical education and, in turn, the future quality of healthcare in the country. On 30 June, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a criminal case naming 34 individuals, including officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the NMC and a few doctors responsible for inspecting Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Nava Raipur. This happened after searches at over 40 places across five states. The CBI findings detail how government officials joined hands with private medical colleges to manipulate the regulatory process. Three NMC inspectors and three officials at the Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Nava Raipur were arrested while exchanging ₹ 55 lakh. The NMC inspectors allegedly took the bribe for approving the college. According to the CBI, health ministry officials gained unauthorized access to confidential information on the regulatory status of medical colleges, including inspection schedules and compositions of inspection teams. The information was shared with intermediaries who, in turn, alerted the medical colleges concerned. 'Such prior disclosure enabled medical colleges to orchestrate fraudulent arrangements including the bribing of assessors to secure favourable inspection reports, deployment of non-existent or proxy faculty (ghost faculty) and the admission of fictitious patients to artificially project compliance during inspections,' said the Lancet report citing the FIR filed by CBI. Lancet said that NMC "lacks a clear action plan and is hindered by centralized power and bureaucratic inefficiencies." The NMC stated on July 14 that it is taking the corruption scandal 'very seriously'. It has decided to blacklist four assessors and will not renew seats for six medical colleges for the 2025-26 academic year. The annual intake for MBBS courses in India is about 118,000. With 1·3 million registered practitioners, India has one doctor for every 1,263 people while the World Health Organization recommends one per 1000. The report said that in an effort to address the shortage of doctors, the government has launched a drive to increase MBBS places, aiming for 75,000 new seats over the next five years. 'This push has resulted in the hurried opening of new medical colleges and the expansion of existing ones. The NMC has even relaxed rules for faculty appointments to address shortages and support this expansion. Under pressure to rapidly expand undergraduate and postgraduate seats without long-term vision or adequate capacity, the NMC has increasingly mirrored the functioning of the (discredited predecessor) MCI,' the report said. The report pointed out that if NMC focuses solely on quantity, the quality of future doctors will be compromised, impacting healthcare delivery, highlighting the critical need for the NMC to uphold and enforce standards in medical education to safeguard public health in India. Commenting on the Lancet report, Dr Dilip Bhanusahli, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), expressed deep concern about the bribery scandal within medical education. He stated that the NMC's involvement has severely damaged its image and public trust. 'IMA strongly demands strictest and time bound punishment to all the accused and institutional mechanisms to prevent such recurrence. We request the government to involve the IMA in matters of health & medical education of the country.' Concerns were also raised about new medical colleges not having enough facilities or teaching staff. Bhanusahli called for a strong law to protect healthcare workers, quick action against fake doctors, and stopping "Mixopathy" (combining different medical systems). Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson, Lancet journal and NMC secretary remained unanswered till press time.
Montreal Gazette
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
The Right Chemistry: Science shows carnivore diet is best left to lions
Jenny McCarthy, a former Playboy Playmate of the Year, is playing with science again. This time it is all about the 'carnivore diet.' Her first foray into the scientific arena was in 2005, when her son was diagnosed with autism. She began to 'do her own research' that led to Dr. Andrew Wakefield's publication in the Lancet, a prime medical journal, linking the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism. That paper was eventually retracted, with Wakefield accused of submitting fraudulent data. His medical license in Britain was subsequently revoked, prompting a move to the U.S., where he found fertile ground for his anti-vaccine agenda. McCarthy, with her then-boyfriend, Canadian actor Jim Carrey, became a vocal questioner of the safety of vaccines. She now insists, à la Robert F. Kennedy Jr., that she was never anti-vaccine; she was just in favour of delaying certain vaccines and reducing the 'toxins,' such as the preservative thimerosal that some contain. This flies in the face of scientific consensus. One would think the plethora of scientific studies published since Wakefield's deceitful paper that have found no relationship between vaccines and autism would have put the issue to rest, but sadly that is not the case. Now McCarthy, 52, has opened another can of worms. Interestingly, the wriggling creatures would actually fit into the carnivore diet she currently advocates. Previously, she had been a vegan and even founded Formless Beauty, a 'vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free' cosmetic company. Why? Because she was 'sick of putting toxic products on her skin.' No eyelashes made of mink fur for McCarthy! Her vegan eyelashes are made from synthetic fibres such as polybutylene terephthalate, polylactic acid or nylon. However, her vegan diet did not go well. 'I became so ill, like I was literally dying. I was exhausted, fatigued, I was a mess.' Then her 'functional medicine' doctor came to the rescue and suggested she try the carnivore diet. Joy now reigns supreme! She does not hesitate to reveal that as a vegan she was pooping every 14 days, but thanks to dining only on grass-fed meat, it is now a daily occurrence. We are all relieved to know this. Her acne has also cleared up and she says she feels like a 25-year-old. What is this carnivore diet all about? Eat nothing but steak and eggs, snack on sticks of butter and abolish grains, fruits and vegetables. Why would anyone want to do that when a massive amount of research documents the benefits of a mostly plant-based diet? Because they have heard that feasting only on meat like a lion leads to weight loss, resolves arthritis, reduces inflammation, eliminates spikes in glucose, improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, stabilizes mood and enhances cognitive function. Who says so? Nutritional luminaries like controversial Edmonton-born psychologist Jordan Peterson, his daughter Mikhaila (curiously named after Mikhail Gorbachev), podcaster Joe Rogan and former orthopedic surgeon and anti-vegan activist Shawn Baker. Keep in mind, though, that diets come and go, and similar claims have been made for the Keto, Cookie, Blood Type, Cabbage Soup, Sleeping Beauty, Cotton Ball, Vision, Grapefruit, Master Cleanse and Tapeworm diets. The current advocates of feasting on red meat did not invent the carnivore diet. In the 18th century, Scottish military surgeon John Rollo concluded that a diet of meat was the answer to diabetes because meat contains no sugar. This was seconded a century later by Italian physician Arnaldo Cantani and American doctor James Salisbury, who claimed that beef drowned in gravy, the so-called 'Salisbury steak,' resolves various health issues. How and why Baker, with no expertise in nutrition, became the carnivore guru isn't clear. What is clear is that the fad is not supported by evidence. Quite the contrary. The lack of fibre increases the risk of colon cancer, imbalances the intestinal microbiome, and can lead to explosive diarrhea. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies red meat as 'probably carcinogenic to humans' and processed meat as 'known to be carcinogenic to humans.' A high-meat diet raises LDL cholesterol, the so-called 'bad cholesterol,' as well as blood levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a compound linked with cardiovascular risk. Meat also lacks vitamin C, magnesium and potassium, all found in plant foods. Then there is the issue of kidney stones. Too great a protein consumption can lead to both calcium-oxalate and uric-acid kidney stones, as exemplified by online influencer Eve Catherine, who ended up in hospital with severe pain after embarking on the carnivore diet. People generally swallow the carnivore bait after having been seduced by the purported 'evidence' that scoots around the blogosphere, almost exclusively anecdotal. Mikhaila Peterson compellingly describes her arthritis symptoms vanishing. Blogger Patrick Ensley describes how eating a 16-oz steak, a pound of ground beef and a half-dozen eggs every day allowed him to lose 140 pounds, cured his snoring and eliminated his brain fog. In his videos, he warns people about eating vegetables like spinach, broccoli and kale because 'these produce plant defence chemicals, so they don't want you to eat them.' Nonsense! Add to this the ripped body of Baker, Jordan Peterson's claims of relief of depression and Rogan speaking of putting on muscle and improving energy. These may be impressive anecdotes, but the plural of anecdote is not data. Neither do self-reported online surveys amount to evidence. Where we do find evidence is for the risks of excessive meat consumption and for the benefits of a Mediterranean type diet with lots of nuts, whole grains fruits, vegetables and little red meat. There is one condition that might be helped by a carnivore diet. A case report in the journal Frontiers of Nutrition describes 10 patients with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis going into remission after starting a carnivore diet, with symptoms only returning when patients diverged from their diet. It's a very interesting report that should prompt further studies, but should not be taken to mean that the carnivore diet is generally beneficial. Baker asks: 'Why doesn't every wild animal that eats meat suffer from the chronic diseases modern humans face?' Maybe because the lion avoids the stress of having to listen to pseudo-scientific babble about diets by sleeping twenty hours a day.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Amid US funding cuts, global health aid sinks to 15-year low in 'era of austerity'
PARIS: Sweeping foreign aid cuts led by the United States will cause international health funding to plummet to the lowest level in 15 years, a study said Wednesday, warning the world has entered a new "era of global health austerity." Money that provides healthcare to some of the poorest and most in-need people across the world has been dramatically slashed this year, led by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The new study published in the prestigious Lancet journal also pointed to recent steep aid cuts announced by the UK, France and Germany. After reaching an all-time high of $80 billion in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, the total amount of global health aid will sink to $39 billion this year, the US-led team of researchers estimated. That would be the lowest level since 2009. Such a dramatic change will result in the world entering a new "era of global health austerity", the authors of the study warned. Sub-Saharan African countries such as Somalia, the war-torn Democratic of Congo and Malawi will be hit worst because most of their health funding currently comes from international aid, according to the study. The funding cuts will have a major impact on the treatment and prevention of a range of diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, it added The US slashed its global health funding by at least 67 percent in 2025 compared to last year, according to the research. The UK cut its funding by nearly 40 percent, following by France with 33 percent and Germany with 12 percent. The researchers at the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation called for the world to urgently ramp up health aid. They also warned that nations would likely need find other sources of funding. The study was released as AIDS experts meet in Rwanda's capital Kigali for an international conference on HIV science. The US foreign aid cuts alone are estimated to result in the preventable deaths of more than 14 million people by 2030, according to a different Lancet study published earlier this month. For comparison, around 10 million soldiers were killed during World War I.
