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India.com
2 days ago
- Health
- India.com
India Tops World Population Charts; Guess Which Metro Birth Rates Are Booming?
New Delhi: India has become the most populous country in the world, officially overtaking China. While the national population continues to witness a rapid grow, the country represents a contrasting trend. Birth rates are declining in several states and metro cities. If the overall population is increasing, where are the most children being born today? Chennai holds the top position in childbirth in the list of India's major metropolitan cities. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21, the city's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stands at 1.65 – which is highest among metro cities. It means each woman here gives birth to an average of 1.65 children. Following closely are Delhi with a TFR of 1.57, Hyderabad at 1.54, Mumbai at 1.44 and Kolkata at 1.40. These numbers highlight a trend, which is urban lifestyles, rising education levels and employment opportunities are contributing to lower fertility rates in India's largest cities. Still, Chennai remains an outlier with the highest urban fertility rate. Interestingly, Gujarat's Ahmedabad is also witnessing a mini baby boom. The city recorded over 100,000 births in fiscal year 2022–23 – a milestone not reached since 2019. It is the first significant spike in births since the COVID-19 pandemic. It points to a rebound in family planning and healthcare access. There is a twist here. Several South Indian states are now actively promoting childbirth. Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister MK Stalin recently made headlines for suggesting that 'the time has come to have 16 children' – a statement (many view it as bold and symbolic) that reflects demographic concerns. Andhra Pradesh too has seen calls to boost fertility rates in the wake of fears that if the TFR dips below 2.0, population decline could soon follow. The NFHS is a crucial nationwide initiative by the Government of India. Conducted across all states and union territories, it gathers data on health, nutrition, education, gender equality and population trends by directly interviewing households. Policymakers use these insights to formulate targeted and effective public policies. While India takes the global crown for population, these numbers suggest that the country is faced with the dual challenge of managing growth in addition to addressing urban fertility slowdowns. Will Chennai continue to lead the baby boom among metros? Or will policy shifts spark new trends across states? Only time and the next survey will offer answers to the questions.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
1 in 2 men, 1 in 10 women in state smoke, finds study; docs flag lung cancer risk
1 2 3 Kolkata: Nearly one in two men and about one in 10 women in Bengal are smokers, one of the highest proportions in the country, making the state's population vulnerable to lung cancer, says the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) report. The figures are scarier for Kolkata. Here, more than one in two (56.6%) residents are smokers, the survey claims, adding that 82% men and 23.5% women indulge in the habit, the highest among all metros in the country. Overall, tobacco use — not just in smokable form, but in other forms as well — had increased over the last decade in Bengal and Kolkata, the report states. Experts say the findings should serve as a grim reminder that concerted anti-tobacco awareness drives should start targeting the right age-groups, specifically those between 14 and 18, which is the age at which most pick up the habit. So far, awareness initiatives have been largely ineffective, say experts. "Rather than adults, the focus of the initiative should be adolescents or school and college students," said Subir Ganguly, an oncologist with Medica Cancer Centre. "It is between 14 and 18 years that most start smoking, and this is when they should be dissuaded by stressing on the disastrous consequences of tobacco use. It is also necessary to prevent access to tobacco for minors," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like São Mateus Do Sul: Quanto vale a sua casa? Descubra agora! Valor da casa | Anúncios de pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo "It is between 14 and 18 years that most start smoking, and this is when they should be dissuaded by stressing on the disastrous consequences of tobacco use. It is also necessary to prevent access to tobacco for minors," oncologist Subir Ganguly said. A study among high school students in Bengal found tobacco use is more common among rural male students than female students. Currently, tobacco use ranges from 36.9% to 52.4% among urban and rural students. The total number of lung cancer patients in the eastern region could be around 12 lakh, claims Bengal Oncology, an organisation working to provide cancer treatment to the underprivileged. But muted symptoms are responsible for a huge number of lung cancer cases remaining undiagnosed or detected late, leading to high mortality, say oncologists and pulmonologists. "So, the actual figure is likely to be much more than 12 lakh, as it does not include the huge number of undiagnosed and unreported cases. It could be a few more lakhs," Ganguly added. A persistent cough, fever, breathing distress or sudden weight loss needs immediate medical intervention, said Charnock Hospital pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta. "While tobacco use is the principal trigger, secondary smoking, environmental smoke or smoke from chullahs are equally responsible for lung cancer," Sengupta added. "If early signs are heeded, it can be detected in the first two stages, which makes lung cancer curable through surgical intervention. But that rarely happens." Around 55% afflicted with the ailment is diagnosed in the third or fourth stages of the illness and survive less than five years, according to data and case studies compiled by the Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER). Lack of awareness on the part of non-oncologists and faulty first-line treatment are as much responsible for higher mortality rates as ignorance on the part of patients, experts say. . Medica Superspecialty Hospital and Manipal Hospital pulmonologist and intensivist Arnab Bera said this posed a significant health risk. "With nearly 26.7 crore adults using tobacco in India, we must revise tobacco cessation policies to introduce effective alternatives," Bera said. "These alternatives should be reserved for smokers, providing scientifically proven solutions for those eager to quit, by incorporating successful strategies from countries like Japan, Sweden, UK, and US. By consulting experts, we can introduce safer alternatives like HTP for smoking cessation," he added. Physicians often lack the training to recognise and respond to early warning signs, statistics suggest. Most cases wouldn't have been detected late, had the initial warning signals been heeded, said Diptendra Sarkar, head of the department of breast cancer, IPGMER. "There is a set of indications that are easy to identify and should lead to tests to rule out cancer. But it rarely happens. So, more than half of the city's cancer patients seek treatment in the final stages and survive less than five years," Sarkar said.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Nutrition bars to be given to adolescent girls to address anaemia
The Telangana government, on Thursday, launched a scheme to provide nutrition bars, made of peanuts and millets, to address anaemia among adolescent girls (14-18 years). Each bar consists of 600 calories, 18-20 grams of protein and necessary micronutrients. Anaemia can result in weakness, diminished physical and mental capacity, maternal mortality, increased morbidity from infectious diseases, perinatal mortality, premature delivery, low birth weight, and (in children) impaired cognitive performance, motor development, and scholastic achievement, according to National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 report. Women and Child Welfare Minister Danasari Anasuya launched the scheme titled Indiramma Amrutham on a pilot project basis, which would be implemented in Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Jayashankar Bhupalapally districts, where there are more cases of anaemia. The scheme was designed in consultation with the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN). It would benefit 50,269 girls: 23,399 in Bhadradri Kothagudem, 18,230 in Asifabad and 8,640 in Jayashankar Bhupalapally. Depending on the feedback, it would be extended to other districts. Two free packets would be given to each through Anganwadi centres, and each packet will have 15 nutrition bars. 'Anaemia is a condition that is marked by low levels of haemoglobin in blood. Iron deficiency is estimated to be responsible for about half of all anaemia globally, but anaemia can also be caused by malaria, hookworms and other helminths, other nutritional deficiencies, chronic infections, and genetic conditions,' according to the NFHS report. Prevalence in Telangana According to the report, 58% of women in Telangana have anaemia. It was particularly high among rural women, women aged 15-19, and Scheduled Tribe women. More than two-thirds (70%) of children aged 6-59 months are anaemic. Some parents consult dieticians with a complaint that though iron rich foods were given, the mineral is deficient in their children. Dietitian Shubhangi Surana, founder, Rainbow Nutrition Clinic in Secunderabad, said that what people have along with the foods plays a role in absorption of iron. 'Incorporate Vitamin C when eating Iron. It always helps. Lemon, Guava, Tamarind, Tomatoes - to an extent - are sources of vitamin C. Calcium is antagonist to iron. So avoid Calcium rich foods with iron,' said Ms. Surana. Abitha Chilkuri, dietician and nutritionist, said that coffee and tea with milk contains toxins that bind with dietary iron and make it unavailable for absorption. 'They should be avoided for at least an hour before, during or immediately after a meal,' she said. Ms. Surana said that Calcium (for bone development), Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Iodine, fiber are other nutritional requirements for the girls in the age group. In order to achieve optimum growth, bone mass, muscle mass and overall good health without any vitamin and mineral deficiencies and to improve longevity adolescents must consume food that is rich in calcium such as finger millet(ragi), green leafy vegetables like amaranth, sesame seeds, milk and milk products, said Ms. Abitha.
India Today
4 days ago
- Health
- India Today
How CBSE's sugar board initiative can help protect children's vision
As India's childhood obesity rates rise there is a growing health crisis of waning has gone up by 126% in the last 15 years from 1.5% in 2005-06 to 3.4% in 2019-21, as per the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5).The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently asked schools to set up sugar boards. These display boards educate students about the hidden dangers of sugary foods and This is a much-needed step that can also help protect children's eyes, which are at risk due to early-onset truly safeguard their vision, schools must also include regular eye check-ups in their health DIABETES AFFECTS A CHILD'S EYEThere were approximately 95,600 children in India under the age of 14 with type 1 diabetes in 2022, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).Millions of youngsters in India have type 1 diabetes, which leads to serious vision issues later in life. In this context, the latest CBSE directions for all its schools are a positive effort aims to teach children how to make informed nutritional choices and promote long-term health sugar consumption has been linked to paediatric obesity and the early onset of type 2 diabetes. High sugar levels can also cause inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which can harm retinal blood vessels and worsen eye damage. Millions of youngsters in India have type 1 diabetes, which leads to serious vision issues later in life. (Photo: Generative AI/India Today) advertisementIn children with diabetes, high blood sugar levels over time can lead to diabetic retinopathy, which is a condition that damages the blood vessels in the retina. This can further progress to more severe problems such as diabetic macular oedema (DME) where, fluid builds up in the central part of the retina, affecting to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), children with higher body mass index (BMI) levels are more likely to develop high myopia as compared to children with normal BMI show that obesity may be associated with changes in insulin resistance and the production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which can lead to increased axial length of the eye, a key factor in myopia. In India, nearly 80 lakh children under the age of 15 suffer from common visual problems such as nearsightedness and far-sightedness. While initiatives like sugar boards are raising awareness about the impact of excessive sugar intake, what is truly needed is to require regular eye exams in all Indian schools to detect and address vision problems early EYE EXAMS ARE NECESSARYIn addition to ensuring proper diabetes care, schools must schedule routine eye exams for children. For timely intervention and treatment, free eye check-up camps should be organised every six months to detect vision problems early. Schools should also educate students about the harmful effects of excessive screen time on their India, one of the major concerns among children is the rising incidence of myopia. According to the Association of Community Ophthalmologists of India (ACOIN), nearly 23% of Indian school children currently suffer from myopia, and this number could rise to 50% by 2050 if preventive action isn't taken 2024 alone, more than 2,000 kids received myopia treatment at the Surya Eye Institute. In India, nearly 80 lakh children under the age of 15 suffer from common visual problems such as nearsightedness and far-sightedness. () After Covid, when children were glued to their mobiles and tablets for online classes, the number of myopic cases has been gradually minor lifestyle adjustments, including wearing glasses if necessary, playing outside for at least an hour each day, and adopting healthy routines, can significantly enhance children's vision and cut down on screen truly protect children's vision, action must follow awareness campaigns. While CBSE's sugar board initiative is timely and laudable, it should be integrated into a comprehensive school health policy that includes regular eye exams and screen time addition, parents must also encourage their kids to follow a healthy and nutritious diet, engage in more outdoor play and activities, and emphasise the importance of eye care in their daily lives.
India.com
4 days ago
- Health
- India.com
THIS Indian state has more than 80% pure vegetarian people... it is not Gujarat, Maharashtra or Uttar Pradesh, it is...
THIS Indian state has more than 80% pure vegetarian people... it is not Gujarat, Maharashtra or Uttar Pradesh, it is... Vegetarian state of India: There is hardly any country in the world where there are no meat eaters. In almost every country, most people eat things like meat, fish, eggs. But when it comes to vegetarians, the name of India comes to mind first. Let us know which is the state where the maximum number of pure vegetarian people live. India is one of those countries in the world where most of the people are vegetarian. However, the number of people who eat non-vegetarian food is also quite large here. In some states, almost 99% of the people are non-vegetarians. That means both types of population are found in abundance in India. Have you ever wondered which is the purest vegetarian state in India? Where not only meat, but even eggs are not touched. If you don't know, then you will be shocked to hear its name, because this state is considered number one in vegetarianism. Rajasthan has the highest vegetarian population in the country. According to the data of National Family Health Survey (NFHS), about 74.9 percent of the population of Rajasthan is completely vegetarian. People here mainly prefer dal, roti, rice, vegetables and milk products in their food. On the other hand, Nagaland is a state in the country where the number of vegetarians is less than one percent. That means more than 99 percent of the people here are non-vegetarians. In Nagaland, meat, fish and other non-vegetarian items are an important part of the daily diet of the people.
