Author: Anish Desai
Weight loss supplements occupy a booming corner of India’s wellness market, marketed as shortcuts in a country grappling with rising obesity, diabetes and fatty liver disease. Yet the reality is more restrained than the advertising suggests. This patient-focused guide presents a clear, evidence-based account of what supplements can and cannot do for Indian patients, while keeping diet and lifestyle at the centre of long-term results. Why Weight Gain Hits Indians Harder Obesity in Indians behaves differently from that seen in many Western populations. Metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and fatty liver often appear at lower body…
Winter is associated with a seasonal rise in childhood illnesses due to cold temperatures, dry air, indoor crowding, and the development of immunity. Most winter illnesses are viral and self-limiting, but early recognition and appropriate care are essential to prevent complications. 1. MOST AFFECTED AGE GROUP: INFANTS, TODDLERS, PRESCHOOL CHILDREN Scientific background: The common cold is caused by respiratory viruses such as rhinoviruses, RSV, adenoviruses, and seasonal coronaviruses. Cold air reduces nasal mucosal defence and mucociliary clearance, allowing viral entry. Symptoms: Runny or blocked nose, sneezing, cough, mild fever, irritability, and feeding difficulty in infants. Prevention: Hand hygiene, saline nasal…
As men grow older, changes in urinary habits are common. One of the most frequent reasons for these changes is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), popularly known as prostate enlargement. BPH is a non-cancerous condition and does not mean a man has prostate cancer. However, it can significantly affect daily comfort, sleep and quality of life if left untreated. Understanding BPH helps men recognise symptoms early and seek timely medical care. With proper diagnosis and treatment, most men can manage their symptoms effectively and continue to lead a normal life. What is the prostate? The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland…
Type 2 diabetes remission is defined as HbA1c <6.5% for at least 3 months without glucose-lowering medication. It is not considered a cure, as relapse can occur, and lifelong monitoring is required. Is Diabetes Reversal Possible? Clinical evidence shows that remission is achievable in a significant proportion of patients, especially when diabetes duration is short (<5–6 years), insulin is not required, and substantial weight loss is achieved. Indian populations demonstrate comparable remission rates when structured interventions are applied. Mechanism of Reversal Excess caloric intake leads to fat accumulation in the liver and pancreas, causing insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction. Weight…
India today faces a silent yet rapidly escalating obesity epidemic, unfolding alongside persistent undernutrition, creating a dual burden unique to many low and middle income countries. Obesity in India is not merely an aesthetic concern, it is a major clinical and public-health driver of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), infertility, osteoarthritis, sleep apnoea and several cancers. Crucially, this crisis is shaped far more by biology and environment than by individual failure. The Facts: India-Specific Reality According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5, 2019–21), approximately 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per…
At 6.30 am in a Mumbai apartment, five-year-old Aarav wakes up crying. His grandmother reaches instinctively, not for a hug or a lullaby, but for a smartphone. A cartoon lights up the screen. Aarav stops crying immediately, eyes fixed, fingers still. Breakfast will happen the same way. So will lunch. By the time Aarav reaches school age, screens may already feel safer than people. This is not a rare story. It is unfolding quietly in millions of Indian homes. Is this addiction, or just modern life? We hesitate to call it a disease. Everyone uses phones: parents, teachers, doctors and…
Back pain, neck pain, shoulder stiffness, and joint aches have become everyday complaints across India. What was once considered a problem of old age is now affecting people in their 20s and 30s. Doctors increasingly observe that pain is no longer an occasional symptom but a chronic condition for millions. This raises an important question: Is India facing a pain epidemic? WHY IS BODY PAIN SO WIDESPREAD IN INDIA TODAY? CAN THIS BE CALLED ‘PAIN ENDEMIC’? Low Back Pain (LBP – Low Back Pain) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. WHO-COPCORD (World Health Organization-Community Oriented Program for Control of…
Scale of the crisis India’s average annual PM2.5 levels—fine particulate matter that poses the gravest health risk—are nearly ten times higher than the World Health Organization’s safe limit. Cities across the Indo-Gangetic Plain, including Delhi, Lucknow, Patna and Kanpur, routinely record hazardous levels, especially in winter when cold air traps pollutants close to the ground. National health estimates link around one million premature deaths every year in India to outdoor air pollution. The majority are caused by heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory infections. While northern India remains the epicentre, air pollution has become a pan-India…
