Global Nutrition Report 2017 finds overweight and obesity to be global health problems

Global Nutrition Report 2017 finds overweight and obesity to be global health problems

“The world faces a grave nutrition situation” says the Global Nutrition Report 2017 released recently. It shows that malnutrition, whether due to undernutrition or obesity, is prevalent in almost all countries around the world, which is hampering the broader global development efforts. The report, which studied 140 countries including India, further highlights the need for an urgent, integrated response to meet any of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Report found ‘significant burdens’ of three important forms of malnutrition used as a indicator of broader trends:

• Childhood stunting
• Anemia in women of reproductive age
• Overweight adult women

Most countries (88%) face the burden of two or three of these forms of malnutrition. Some key observations of the Report are:

• Overweight and obesity are on the rise in almost every country; 2 billion adults are now overweight or obese. There is less than 1% chance of meeting the global target of halting the rise in obesity and diabetes by 2025.
• At least 41 million children under five are overweight, with the problem affecting high and lower income countries alike
• At least 10 million children in Africa are now classified as overweight. One third of North American men (33%) and women (34%) are obese.
• Although undernutrition rates are declining, it is not enough to meet the internationally agreed nutrition goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target 2.2 to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030.
• 155 million children under five are stunted; Africa is the only region where absolute numbers are rising, due to population growth
• 52 million children worldwide are defined as wasted, meaning they do not weigh enough for their height.
• 2 billion people lack key micronutrients like iron and vitamin A
• Anemia rates are rising globally in women of reproductive age. More than half of all women of reproductive age in India have anemia with India.

(Source: Global Nutrition Report, November 3, 2017)

Effective management of summer induced heart problems

Effective management of summer induced heart problems
With the onset of summer, heart patients are at increased risk of heart failure due to excessive dehydration and heat exhaustion New Delhi, March 26, 2017: With the onset of summer, more and more cases of heat-induced disorders are being reported in tropical countries like India. The commonest forms of these disorders are: dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Given that excessive dehydration and exhaustion can trigger atrial fibrillation and can also precipitate stroke and heart failure in individuals with pre-existing cardiac disorders, raising mass awareness about precautionary measures is crucial. A healthy body temperature is maintained by the nervous system. As the outside temperature increases, the body tries to maintain its normal temperature by transferring heat. Sweating and blood flow to the skin help us keep our bodies cool. Most healthy people tolerate these changes without missing a beat. However, people with damaged or weakened hearts, or older people whose bodies don’t respond as readily to stress as they once did, have a much harder time, and may succumb to heat stroke. Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, National President, Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement said that, “Seasonal changes can hamper our health if adequate precautions are not taken particularly by high-risk individuals. People living with high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac arrhythmias, and elderly patients are more likely to experience problems due to excessive heat during the summer months. Various medications like beta-blockers, ACE-inhibitors, calcium channel blockers that are prescribed to heart patients can also amplify the body’s response to excessive heat. Patients must consult their doctors if they exhibit common symptoms of a heat stroke including altered consciousness, high grade fever, and dry armpit and not passing urine once in 8 hours. One must never stop medicines on their own, as discontinuation of the same can significantly increase the risk of cardiac problems.” “Excessive heat can lead to dehydration, which makes the blood thick and can precipitate a heart attack in patients with uncontrolled blood pressure or diabetes. Exhausting summers can result in the deficiency of body fluid (up to 6 to 8 litters) and sodium or salt. Hence, to combat excessive heat it is advised to drink plenty of water, consume fruits and eat light meals that are easy on your stomach,” added Dr K K Aggarwal. Some tips to prevent summer induced health problems: • Drink plenty of water, fluids and consume fruits • Try to stay away from direct sunlight for long time • Wear light coloured and light weighted clothes as it may trap less heat against the body • Intense and outdoor exercises must be avoided • Avoid consumption of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages as they increases the risk of dehydration due to their diuretic property’ • Elderly people and those taking anti-allergic medicaments must stay away from heat