Latest news with #WorldHeartFederation
Mint
18-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
Access to obesity management not available to most Indian patients: World Heart Federation report
Mumbai: Obesity in India has risen tremendously in the last 35 years, in tandem with rising rates across the world, a new report highlights, and tools to manage obesity are not universally available to most patients. According to a report by the World Heart Federation (WHF), obesity in adults globally has quadrupled since 1990. In 2022, a good 878 million adults lived with obesity, compared with 194 million in 1990. The report, released on Saturday, projected that if the current growth trends continue, nearly two out of three adults (over 25 years) could be overweight or obese by 2050. The World Heart Report 2025—Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease highlights the rising prevalence of obesity and gaps in access to treatment worldwide. In India, obesity among women has grown at least sevenfold from 1990 to 2024, with 10% of adult women over the age of 20, about 44 million, living with obesity in the country. Obesity among men, in comparison, rose by 4.9% since 1990, now affecting 26 million Indian men or 5% of India's male population. India has twice as many obese women as men. Obesity among children and youngsters—between the ages of 5 and 19—is on the rise as well, the report cautioned. In India, 5.2 million, or 3%, girls are obese, an increase of 3% from 1990. On the other hand, around 7.3 million, or about 4%, boys are obese, which is an increase of 3.7% from 1990. As the rate of child obesity continues to increase, children with a high body mass index (BMI) are 40% more likely than their peers to suffer from cardiovascular disease in midlife. BMI helps to assess risk factors for certain health conditions. The onset of obesity at younger ages can significantly reduce life expectancy, the report said. Obesity is recognized as a disease, yet there are still significant gaps in treatment across the world. On one hand, the stigma and misunderstanding of obesity prevent people from receiving adequate treatment. Systemic healthcare gaps compound the problem and contribute to an economic burden worsened by the aggressive commercial practices of companies making cheap, processed food. In India, access to specific management protocols is not universally available to most patients, Dr Prabhakaran Dorairaj, president-elect of WHF, and executive director of the Centre for Chronic Disease Control in New Delhi, told Mint. 'The management of obesity, unlike, say, hypertension, is fragmented and highly heterogeneous. Most are centred on behaviour change of weight reduction through dietary modification and increased physical activity, which in many cases are not sustainable in the long term,' he said. Blockbuster weight loss drugs, like Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, available in the West, have received approval only recently in India, 'but access would be limited to a very few due to the high costs of these drugs,' Dr Dorairaj said. 'In extreme cases, bariatric surgery is available but in limited cities.' Mounjaro, a GLP-1 drug, was launched in India in March. It is still inaccessible to a large number of Indians at ₹ 17,500 monthly for a 5mg dose. GLP-1 drugs are a class of drugs that mimic the glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone which regulates blood sugar and appetite, and are used to treat type-2 diabetes and obesity. However, the drug's sales have picked up—consumption tripled in April. According to data from business-to-business platform Pharmarack, Mounjaro reported sales of ₹ 1.42 crore in March and ₹ 4.80 crore in April. However, as the dosage is once a week, this tripling may be an indicator of adherence to the dosage schedule. Mounjaro is just the first in a slew of launches expected in India. Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk is likely to announce the launch of its weight loss drug Wegovy this year. As its blockbuster molecule, Semaglutide, goes off patent in 2026, Indian companies are ready to launch generic copies priced at 90-95%. The market for weight-loss drugs is expected to boom once prices go down. However, there is a need for public healthcare interventions to lower the incidence of obesity across the world. 'To tackle the world's mounting obesity crisis, governments must implement cost-effective public health measures that improve public awareness and decrease risk factors, recognising obesity as multifactorial and committing to making full treatment options available, accessible and affordable,' Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and one of the report's authors, said. The cost of obesity is not just economic; it also leads to a higher mortality rate among susceptible individuals. Global deaths from cardiovascular disease linked to high BMI have more than doubled, the report highlights. While cardiovascular diseases already make up 25% of all deaths in India, 5.6% of these deaths can be attributed to high BMI. This is an increase from 1990, when around 15% of all deaths were from cardiovascular diseases, out of which 2.44% could be attributable to high BMI. Indian women, again, are more likely to die from high BMI-related cardiovascular diseases. In men, 4.6% of all cardiovascular disease deaths can be attributable to high BMI, whereas in women, almost 7% of all cardiovascular disease deaths can be attributed to high BMI. In 2019, the economic impact of overweight and obesity in India was estimated to be $28.95 billion, according to the World Obesity Federation. This is equivalent to $21 per capita and 1% of gross domestic product (GDP). The economic impacts are predicted to increase to $838.6 billion by 2060. This is equivalent to $508 per capita and 2.5% of GDP and represents a 29-fold increase in total costs.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two in three adults could be obese by 2050, according to world heart report (EMB Sat 17th 00:00)
Two in three adults over the age of 25 could be obese or overweight by 2050, experts have warned. Access to healthy and affordable food, green spaces and a shift towards desk jobs and longer working hours have contributed to increasing levels of obesity, according to the newly released World Heart Report. The report, compiled by the World Heart Foundation, also highlights that 'game changing' medical interventions such as weight loss jabs like Wegovy, are showing positive steps. Globally the number of adults living with obesity has quadrupled since 1990 from 194 million to 878 million in 2022 – a figure that is only expected to rise. Obesity is known to significantly increase the risk of several health conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and some cancers, according to the NHS. It causes 3.7 million deaths per year and is a leading driver of deaths from cardiovascular disease, the report by the World Heart Federation warns. High BMI accounts for nearly 10 per cent of all cardiovascular deaths worldwide, doubling to 1.9 million in three decades. Children with a high BMI are 40 per cent more likely than those with low BMI to suffer with cardiovascular disease in midlife. The economic impact of obesity is also rising. Costs to the global economy from obesity-related healthcare needs, productivity losses and death are estimated to amount to 2.2 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). That's just under $2 trillion per year and it could reach 3 per cent annually by 2060. To tackle the problem some countries including the UK, Japan and Rwanda have taken steps to tackle obesity by limiting the density of fast-food outlets, particularly near schools and areas with childhood obesity and deprivation. The report also highlights that 'game changing' medical interventions such as weight loss jabs like Wegovy, are showing positive steps. 'To address the growing implications of the obesity crisis, we urge action and targeted investment by governments around the world. Health systems must be strengthened to ensure broader access to, and affordability of, medical care for obesity and cardiovascular disease,' said Mariachiara Di Cesare, Professor of Population Studies and Global Health, and Director of the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing at the University of Essex, and one of the report authors. The report also suggests some health professionals hold negative biases about obesity and to view patients as 'non-compliant with health advice'. It explains this can deter people with obesity from seeking medical care, including prevention and screening, putting their overall health at risk. Authors also highlight that the perception that people living with obesity are 'lazy, gluttonous, and lacking in self-discipline" has long lasting psychological and physical consequences. Children and young adults are especially vulnerable to bullying and discrimination based on their weight, and obesity is now the leading cause of such bullying in schools, affecting children's education and their mental health. 'Longstanding weight stigma and discrimination have hindered efforts to tackle obesity and contributed to the rise of CVDs, so it is urgent to address both,' Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and one of the report authors said. 'Any policy to tackle obesity must address health disparities and support underserved populations who face greater barriers to healthy living and obesity therapies, while taking care to not further entrench the stigmatisation of obesity,' he added.
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Two in three adults could be obese by 2050, according to world heart report (EMB Sat 17th 00:00)
Two in three adults over the age of 25 could be obese or overweight by 2050, experts have warned. Access to healthy and affordable food, green spaces and a shift towards desk jobs and longer working hours have contributed to increasing levels of obesity, according to the newly released World Heart Report. The report, compiled by the World Heart Foundation, also highlights that 'game changing' medical interventions such as weight loss jabs like Wegovy, are showing positive steps. Globally the number of adults living with obesity has quadrupled since 1990 from 194 million to 878 million in 2022 – a figure that is only expected to rise. Obesity is known to significantly increase the risk of several health conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and some cancers, according to the NHS. It causes 3.7 million deaths per year and is a leading driver of deaths from cardiovascular disease, the report by the World Heart Federation warns. High BMI accounts for nearly 10 per cent of all cardiovascular deaths worldwide, doubling to 1.9 million in three decades. Children with a high BMI are 40 per cent more likely than those with low BMI to suffer with cardiovascular disease in midlife. The economic impact of obesity is also rising. Costs to the global economy from obesity-related healthcare needs, productivity losses and death are estimated to amount to 2.2 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). That's just under $2 trillion per year and it could reach 3 per cent annually by 2060. To tackle the problem some countries including the UK, Japan and Rwanda have taken steps to tackle obesity by limiting the density of fast-food outlets, particularly near schools and areas with childhood obesity and deprivation. The report also highlights that 'game changing' medical interventions such as weight loss jabs like Wegovy, are showing positive steps. 'To address the growing implications of the obesity crisis, we urge action and targeted investment by governments around the world. Health systems must be strengthened to ensure broader access to, and affordability of, medical care for obesity and cardiovascular disease,' said Mariachiara Di Cesare, Professor of Population Studies and Global Health, and Director of the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing at the University of Essex, and one of the report authors. The report also suggests some health professionals hold negative biases about obesity and to view patients as 'non-compliant with health advice'. It explains this can deter people with obesity from seeking medical care, including prevention and screening, putting their overall health at risk. Authors also highlight that the perception that people living with obesity are 'lazy, gluttonous, and lacking in self-discipline" has long lasting psychological and physical consequences. Children and young adults are especially vulnerable to bullying and discrimination based on their weight, and obesity is now the leading cause of such bullying in schools, affecting children's education and their mental health. 'Longstanding weight stigma and discrimination have hindered efforts to tackle obesity and contributed to the rise of CVDs, so it is urgent to address both,' Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and one of the report authors said. 'Any policy to tackle obesity must address health disparities and support underserved populations who face greater barriers to healthy living and obesity therapies, while taking care to not further entrench the stigmatisation of obesity,' he added.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Study blames pollution, unhealthy diets for regional heart disease spikes across Asia
May 8 (UPI) -- Rapidly rising rates of heart disease across Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania are being driven by differing, localized consequences of industrialization and rapid economic growth, according to research released Thursday. In a study unveiled at the American College of Cardiology Asia 2025 scientific meeting in Singapore, researchers from India's Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences reported their data analysis shows that although ischemic heart disease soared across all three regions from 1990 to 2021, the factors driving the increases aren't the same everywhere. These "region-specific, modifiable risk factors" include toxic air pollution in East Asia and ultra-processed dietary dependence in Oceania, according to the authors. ischemic heart disease, or IHD, is a condition in which the heart is starved of oxygen due to a reduced blood supply, most commonly caused by a build-up of fatty plaque in the wall of one of the arteries supplying blood to the heart. As the plaque enlarges, it gradually obstructs the flow of blood, which deprives the heart of oxygen and nutrients, often resulting in strokes and heart attacks. IHD usually doesn't cause signs or symptoms until it severely narrows or totally blocks an artery. It is now the leading cause of premature death in 146 countries for men and 98 countries for women, according to the World Heart Federation. While previous research has shown that with rapid industrialization and resulting lifestyle changes, cardiovascular disease across Asia and Oceania has become a major concern, but the latest research shines a spotlight how the phenomenon differs from place to place. "Our study uncovers a critical and underreported dimension of the global cardiovascular crisis: the rapidly rising and regionally distinct burden of ischemic heart disease across Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania -- regions that together represent over 2 billion people," said lead author Hardik Dineshbhai Desai, an independent researcher at the Gujarat Adani Institute. His analysis tapped data from the landmark Global Burden of Disease 2021 standardized methodology to assess the changing incidence and prevalence of IHD, along with rates of mortality and disability due to IHD, across the three regions. Among the nations included in the study were China, North Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and American Samoa. The study revealed that during the 31 years from 1990 to 2021, the annual percentage change for total prevalence of ischemic heart disease across all three regions rose by 3.79%, while ISD-related deaths rose by 4.12%. Disability-adjusted life years, or DALYs -- representing the total years of life lost due to premature mortality and the time lived with a disability -- went up by 3.24%. Regionally, East Asia experienced the highest burden over the last three decades. Those younger than age 70 showed a "significant increase" in heart disease incidences and DALYs, while those 70 or older saw a rise in deaths during the same period. East Asian deaths from heart disease attributable to modifiable risk factors such as high blood pressure, unhealthy diets and air pollution rose by 2.4%, while DALYs rose by 1.71% from 1990 to 2021, the authors estimated. Meanwhile, the highest age-standardized IHD mortality rate was found in the nations of Oceania, including American Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Guam, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Those countries posted a rate of 170.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, mainly attributable to the rise in heavily processed foods in local diets, according to Desai. "The rise of IHD in Oceania -- and increasingly in parts of Southeast Asia and East Asia -- is strongly tied to the proliferation of ultra-processed foods, a byproduct of globalized food systems," he told UPI in emailed comments. "These foods, often high in trans fats, refined sugars and sodium and low in fiber or essential nutrients, are aggressively marketed, widely accessible and economically attractive, especially in low- and middle-income settings." In Oceania, particularly among Pacific Island nations, "traditional diets rich in root crops, fruits and fish have been steadily replaced by imported, calorie-dense packaged products such as processed meats, sugary beverages, instant noodles and refined snacks," he added. "This dietary shift is not simply a matter of personal choice, but reflects deeper structural issues -- including food import dependence, limited local food production, urbanization and economic constraints. "The epidemiological outcome is a dramatic rise in obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia -- key metabolic risk factors driving IHD." Across all of Asia, the rising levels of heart disease are evidence of what Desai called an "economic paradox" in which "the very forces driving economic growth -- urbanization, industrialization, and globalized food systems -- are simultaneously accelerating the burden of ischemic heart disease." In parts of Southeast and East Asia, he said, "modern food environments and sedentary urban lifestyles are rapidly displacing traditional, balanced diets. What makes this particularly concerning is that the metabolic consequences emerge earlier and progress more aggressively in these populations, often without adequate health system capacity to respond." The study's findings "demonstrate an alarming rise of ischemic heart disease across Southeast Asia and East Asia," said Dr. Kevin Shah, a cardiologist with the MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in California. Shah, who has conducted research focused on heart disease in the South Asian community, was not connected to the Indian study. He told UPI its results "underscore how globalized changing dietary patterns have converged with traditional risk factors to create a 'perfect storm' for cardiovascular disease in a region representing nearly a third of global economic activity." The study, he said, is "particularly valuable" due to its detailed mapping of regional disparities and the identification of metabolic risk factors as the fastest-growing contributors to mortality. "As we confront the reality that ischemic heart disease now accounts for nearly 15% of all deaths in this region, this study provides an further support for developing targeted interventions that can address both the socioeconomic determinants and clinical management of heart disease across diverse Asian populations," Shah said. Desai, the study's chief author, agreed that it could provide a roadmap for Asian policymakers to move from "reactive to preventive" cardiovascular strategies and to concentrate on localized approaches, such as controlling air pollution control in East Asia and lipid and blood pressure screening in Southeast Asia. "One-size-fits-all approaches have failed in the past because they overlook local context; our findings offer a data-driven roadmap for precision public health," he said. And more broadly, the findings can serve a guide for implementing "bold, localized policy" across multiple sectors of governments, including not only health ministries but those covering agriculture, trade, urban planning and education. "For example, governments can implement front-of-pack food labeling, regulate trans fats and added sugars, subsidize healthier local produce, and limit the marketing of ultra-processed foods, especially to children," Desai said. "Investments in primary care infrastructure for early detection of hypertension and metabolic risks can also be scaled in high-burden areas." Dr. Annabelle Santos Volgman, a cardiologist, researcher and professor at Rush College of Medicine in Chicago, said the study's findings are all too familiar. "We have been seeing a trend in these regions of the world for the increasing mortality from cardiovascular disease versus communicable disease," she told UPI. "The reasons for this increase have been explained by the authors, but the challenge is that social determinants of health are a major barrier to decreasing cardiovascular mortality in many nations."
Telegraph
03-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
What drinking alcohol when you're on statins really does to your body
As we reach a certain age, many of us begin reaching for our pill bottles, as well as a nice glass of red. With more than 10 million people in England now eligible for statins, the cholesterol lowering drugs (which are prescribed to reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases and prevent further damage for people who have already had a heart attack) it's inevitable that some will want to keep enjoying the odd drink while taking their medications (although perhaps not simultaneously). This is particularly true after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) watchdog adjusted their guidelines in 2023 to lower the age of eligibility for statins down to 25, meaning that younger patients – especially those with underlying genetic risk factors – deemed to be at a higher short-term risk of heart problems can now be offered the drugs. But can statins and alcohol really be combined? Are some worse than others? Or are they quite simply, a marriage made in hell? How does drinking alcohol affect the body when on statins? Dr Raul Santos, a Brazilian cardiologist who serves as editor-in-chief for the World Heart Federation's Global Heart Journal, is keen to emphasise that statins are, overall, extremely safe medications. 'They've been used by millions of people for decades to reduce cholesterol, and prevent myocardial infarctions [the medical term for heart attacks] and stroke,' says Dr Santos. However, people can sometimes run into issues when combining them with alcohol, because the way in which statins lower LDL or 'bad' cholesterol is through acting on a series of biological pathways in the liver. In particular, statins inhibit an enzyme which actively decreases the continuing production of cholesterol, as well as enhancing the uptake and breakdown of existing LDL cholesterol in the blood. How does this affect our livers? The problem, as pointed out by Dr Oliver Guttmann, a consultant cardiologist at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, is that alcohol also acts on various enzymes in the liver. 'They're both going down the same waterway, so to speak,' says Dr Guttmann. 'So the main concern is that there's going to be some kind of congestion.' With statins altering the liver's natural function, and alcohol needing to be metabolised, Dr Guttmann says that having too much booze in your system risks impeding the liver's ability to carry out its vital functions such as breaking down and detoxifying toxins. 'When statins and alcohol are combined at a high level, there's an increased risk of liver inflammation or damage,' he adds. It's also not great news for those who are taking statins for the long-term. Some research indicates that excessive alcohol might impair the long-term health benefits of taking statins. As well as reducing LDL cholesterol, these drugs also improve cardiovascular health by lowering the amounts of another subtype of fat in the blood called triglycerides. But because alcohol is surprisingly calorific, consuming too much of it can send triglycerides straight back up again. 'The whole point of taking statins is to lower cholesterol and triglycerides and decrease the furring up the blood vessels in the body, especially the coronary arteries around the heart, and in the neck leading up to the brain,' explains Dr Guttmann. 'But alcohol, if not taken in moderation, can actively increase the formation of plaques and high concentrations of it can cause narrowing of blood vessels. So through too much alcohol, you're driving the things you're trying to prevent.' What are the risks of taking statins and drinking? According to Guttmann, people taking statins with underlying liver problems such as fatty liver disease or hepatitis, are more likely to be at risk of developing issues through consuming too much alcohol. Certain statins may also carry a higher risk of adverse effects. Dr Roy Jogiya, the chief medical adviser at Heart Research UK and a consultant cardiologist at Kingston and St Thomas Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, says side effects are more likely with simvastatin and atorvastatin in particular, such as fatigue or gastrointestinal issues. 'These statins are processed by a liver enzyme (called CYP3A4) which can also be affected by alcohol,' says Dr Jogiya. 'This means there may be a slightly higher risk of liver-related side effects in the context of heavy drinking. That said, for most people drinking in moderation, the difference is unlikely to be clinically significant, but we take these factors into account when prescribing.' Does alcohol worsen statin side effects? The risk of worsening muscle aches and pains has sometimes been described as one of the main factors which puts people off taking statins, and according to cardiologists, there is a chance that alcohol may exacerbate this. One of the reasons for this is that excess alcohol can not only drive muscle inflammation but disable certain liver enzymes which break down and clear statins from the body, meaning that the liver is being exposed to higher levels of the drugs. 'It's as if you're taking a higher dose of the statin,' says Dr Guttmann. Dr Santos agrees that this is a possibility. 'Alcohol can cause or exacerbate muscle pains and digestive issues in people taking statins, and one should be aware of that,' he warns. 'The right thing to do is stop or reduce drinking, rather than stopping statins or other cholesterol-lowering medications.' At the same time, Dr Santos points out that while muscle aches are typically attributed to statins, clinical trials suggest that pains directly caused by a statin are quite rare, only occurring in 1-3 per cent of users. 'Muscle aches are sometimes reported by people on statins, but in many cases, they're caused by other factors, not the statin itself,' says Dr Jogiya. 'That said, alcohol can contribute to dehydration and may affect muscle function, which could make symptoms more noticeable.' One of the most serious statin concerns is a very rare side effect called rhabdomyolysis, or the complete breakdown of muscle cells, which occurs in 0.01 per cent of users. Dr Guttmann says that too much alcohol could also exacerbate this effect, but the overall chances of this happening are still very unlikely. Are there newer statins which have different affects with alcohol? Dr Guttmann says that if anyone is particularly concerned about statin-alcohol interactions, he would recommend taking either newer forms of the drugs such as pravastatin or rosuvastatin. 'While they're metabolised by the liver as well, it's not by the same enzymes, and therefore, there's a lower risk of liver-related effects,' he explains. How much booze is too much? So how much alcohol should you stick to? Dr Santos suggests that all statin users should aim to stay within the guidelines of seven units per week for women and 14 units for men, while Dr Guttmann says that drinking advice should take into account whether the patient has any other underlying liver conditions. 'It depends on other conditions: does the patient have fatty liver, or cirrhosis which is a very significant liver problem?' he says. 'Do they have hepatitis or any underlying muscle or kidney problems? Do they take any other medications, as lots of drugs also work on the liver, and sometimes a combination of things can be quite toxic. So all of this needs to be discussed with their doctor.' But overall, if a patient really wants to have the option to continue drinking alongside statins, Dr Guttmann says that the equivalent of one standard glass of wine per day is what he suggests as a general rule. 'This is usually what I would recommend,' he says. 'And you shouldn't drink every day, maybe have some gaps, but that should be OK.' Dr Jogiya says: 'In short – yes, but with care. Moderate alcohol consumption is unlikely to cause issues for most people taking statins, but it's important to look at the bigger picture. 'Statins are prescribed to protect long-term heart health, and drinking habits should ideally align with that goal. Occasional, moderate drinking, particularly when enjoyed with food and within recommended weekly limits, can usually be managed safely. I'd always recommend discussing it with a GP or pharmacist, especially if there are any concerns about side effects or liver function.' Dr Guttmann adds: 'Generally, if you have a little bit of alcohol, no more than a glass of wine a day, it's generally safe. I don't really come across people who have been advised not to have any alcohol at all with statins. But the bottom line is that moderation is really important. Heavy or chronic drinking will significantly increase your risk of statin-related problems.'
