MediWeek

Indian diet largely comprises carbohydrates, mainly white rice, milled whole grains, and added sugars. While these foods are affordable and culturally preferred, they often lack fiber, protein, and essential nutrients. Such high-carbohydrate, low-protein patterns coupled with low levels of physical activity are now being linked to rising rates of diabetes and obesity across the country. […]

Sleep plays a vital role in the regulation of metabolism, modulation of immune function, brain waste clearance, and memory consolidation. Sleep disturbances are common in older age, and increasing evidence shows a complex relationship between sleep and dementia. The relationship between sleep and very early changes in brain health, before the symptoms of dementia set

Regular consumption of soft drinks, which are sources of added sugars are linked to adverse outcomes of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer [1]. Observational studies have also connected the dots of frequent consumption of sugar sweetened beverages to poor mental outcomes, including depression [2]. A new multicenter analysis from the Marburg–Münster Affective

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, and has its origin in childhood. Presence of cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors like insulin resistance, high blood pressure, increased cholesterol levels, high waist circumference, and obesity are important predictors of early onset of CVD. In recent times, with children and adolescents involved in

Colon cancer (CC) is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with nearly 1.9 million new cases and over 900,000 deaths annually. Diet is recognized as a modifiable risk factor in the  prevention of CC, with certain food groups showing strong protective effects. Cruciferous vegetables (CV) including broccoli,

Low-calorie sweeteners and sugar substitutes have been around since the early 1900s. The US FDA has approved sugar substitutes such as saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, xylitol, erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit for use as food additives. They offer the benefits of reduced blood sugar spike in people with diabetes and protection of the teeth from cavities

Obesity is increasingly being recognized as a metabolic disorder that accelerates biological aging. Typical consequences of aging such as sarcopenia, atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and declining adaptive immune function, are aggravated by obesity. Alarmingly, these age-associated health issues are now being observed in younger population, indicating early signs of accelerated aging and raising significant public health

The circadian system is a hierarchically structured 24-hour timing system in the body that regulates behavior and metabolism via a central clock in the brain and peripheral clocks in different tissues and organs. Hence, the body responds differently to the same food consumed at different times of the day, resulting in diurnal variations in glucose

Historically, physical activity guidelines emphasised on time spent in moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity as the main metric for recommendations. However, daily step counts offer an alternative: they are simple, easily understood, and can be tracked using pedometers, accelerometers, or modern activity trackers. Although step counts cannot capture all activities—such as cycling or wheelchair-based movements—they effectively reflect ambulatory activities

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder in which blockage of the upper airway occurs repeatedly during sleep, posing as a significant public health concern. It leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, poor sleep quality, and hampered quality of life. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard therapy for OSA due