Latest news with #RabiulIslam
Vancouver Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Obesity in Canada jumped almost 8% after onset of pandemic: CMAJ study
Obesity climbed 7.74 per cent in Canada thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a new report released Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, obesity increased at an accelerated rate after the onset of the pandemic. Investment in research and interventions is needed, say the authors, to prevent and treat obesity in Canada. It should be an urgent priority for policymakers, they insist. Obesity was recognized early on as a significant risk in exacerbating the severity of COVID-19, as well as the risk of death, say the authors. However, the impact of the pandemic on chronic disease, such as obesity, has received less scientific attention. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Researchers Laura N. Anderson, Rabiul Islam and Arthur Sweetman looked at a cross-section of data collected from 2009–2023 as part of the Canadian Community Health Survey. They drew on two studies, one pre-pandemic (2009-2020) and a second completed during the pandemic (2020-2023). 'The pandemic led to unprecedented and rapid changes in the daily lives of people in Canada, including adverse changes in sedentary time, physical activity, diet, food insecurity, stress, mental health, and the worsening of many socioeconomic factors, including job loss and higher costs of living,' they write in the report. 'Many of these … factors have been associated with a greater risk of developing obesity.' In 2023, 32.69 per cent of adults in Canada (10.6 million people) were overweight with a Body-Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher (27.5 or higher for people of Asian descent). This was an absolute increase of nearly 8 per cent from 2009, when the prevalence was 24.95 per cent. Compared with the 11 years before the pandemic, obesity increased at a greater rate during the four years after the pandemic arrived. Specific subgroups of the population were affected more than others by increased obesity, particularly females and younger adults, the researchers concluded. The overall findings of an increase in obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic are consistent with studies from several other countries and populations, according to the researchers. GLP-1 medications (such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Contrave or Rybelsus) for treatment of diabetes and weight loss were introduced in Canada during the study period, though they were not widely available for obesity treatment. But the researchers question the impact of these medications going forward, and wonder whether they will dampen pandemic exacerbated obesity trends. The authors conceded that BMI as a measurement tool has limitations. BMI is calculated as the weight in kilograms divided by the height in metres squared. It has been the standard measure for defining obesity because it is quick, inexpensive, noninvasive, and has some correlation to metabolic disease prevalence. However, BMI categories indicating underweight, normal, overweight, obese, etc., differ for Asian Americans who have a higher risk of metabolic disease at lower BMI values. The researchers say they used different thresholds for people of Asian (South Asian, Chinese, Filipino, Southeast Asian, Korean and Japanese) descent. Another anomaly is that some men who are deemed overweight according to BMI but don't have excess middle-body fat can have lower overall mortality risk than men in other BMI weight categories. There is also evidence of an obesity paradox where obesity has protective effects for patients with a history of previously diagnosed heart failure. Despite these caveats, the researchers argue that for population-level screening and surveillance, using 'BMI categories as a proxy for obesity in adults continues to be recommended.' The researchers are advocating for future studies to understand longer-term trends, specifically to evaluate whether the steep increase in obesity during the pandemic continues as a trend or falls to pre-pandemic levels. And they wonder about the causes of upward trends among females and younger adults – whether they were driven by increased stress or adverse mental health related to occupation or caregiving during the pandemic. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
India.com
12-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
Steel Ministry Tightens Screws On Dubious, Cheap Imports; Short Relief Window As Focus Shifts To Make In India push
Reported By: Rabiul Islam In a move aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and ensuring high-quality standards, the Ministry of Steel has issued fresh exemptions under its order dated 13 June 2025. This new directive provides two key relaxations: First, imported steel products with a Bill of Lading date on or before 15 July 2025 are exempted from the mandatory requirement of using BIS-compliant input steel. This window allows certain pre-shipped consignments to clear without facing sudden regulatory hurdles, offering relief to traders caught in transition. Second, integrated steel plants (ISPs) within India are exempted from the same requirement for their final products, provided they undergo verification of their BIS licences. To avail this, ISPs must submit a declaration to the Ministry of Steel confirming their status along with supporting BIS documentation. Any false declaration can lead to penalties, including debarment in the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS). These changes come against the backdrop of increasing scrutiny of steel imports, especially from China, Vietnam, and Japan. Over the past year, the Steel Ministry uncovered widespread malpractices where traders tried to bypass quality norms by misrepresenting the grade and composition of imported steel. In many cases, importers sought approval for 'new' or 'modified' grades that did not meet Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms, allowing them to bring in cheaper and weaker materials. Earlier data showed over 1,100 import applications involving steel grades not officially recognised or covered under BIS. Many of these so-called new grades had only minor tweaks, clearly revealing a strategy to flood the Indian market with inferior steel. India has been importing around 400,000 tonnes of non-BIS-compliant steel each year, worth nearly Rs 4,200 crore. The new order supports India's broader push to reduce dependence on imports, improve quality checks, and strengthen local production. The Ministry's latest decision is expected to boost the 'Make in India' programme. By insisting that only BIS-compliant steel be used, the government is protecting consumers and encouraging Indian producers to expand capacity. Many domestic steelmakers — both public and private — have already assured the government they will ramp up production and keep prices stable. Two major producers have committed to supplying enough steel to meet local demand and avoid sudden price spikes, at least until December 2025. This aligns with the vision of a self-reliant India, or 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', where local industries cater to domestic needs and create jobs. Moreover, these steps will help stop the inflow of Chinese-origin steel entering India through Vietnam and other routes. The Ministry had highlighted that many so-called Vietnamese shipments were actually Chinese products re-routed to bypass trade barriers. By enforcing BIS norms on both final products and input materials like billets and coils, India is closing these loopholes that have hurt local steelmakers. Overall, this order marks a clear step toward building a stronger, more reliable steel ecosystem in India. It protects safety standards, supports local manufacturing, and reinforces India's goal of becoming a global manufacturing hub. For a sector that is critical to infrastructure and countless industries, such policy clarity sends a strong message: India is serious about quality and self-reliance. This is not just a regulatory update; it is a decisive move to empower Indian producers, enhance global competitiveness, and place 'Make in India' firmly at the centre of the country's growth story.
