A report published in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology has called for an overhaul of our understanding of obesity. An over-reliance on using Body Mass Index [BMI] as a metric has the peculiar effect of leading to both underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis of the condition. __________________________. BMI does not give accurate information about how fat is distributed in an individual’s body. It frequently fails to capture the true state of health of an individual. A person’s BMI may indicate they are “obese”, but their organs and bodily functions may be absolutely normal. Every individual is a unique constellation — not only of genes and other biological variables, but also socio-economic conditions and habits.

__________________ Infrastructure, in the form of paved surfaces, disrupts water absorption and lowers water retention. This leads to disastrous levels of flooding which diminishes the biodiversity and impoverishes the people of the region. Land should be used mindfully to prevent water logging during heavy rains.

Till recently, weight-loss drugs have been an elite privilege, creating a class system among those battling obesity and diabetes and setting new aspirational benchmarks for a healthy life. Manufacturers have now lowered their prices to tap into a booming health-conscious market in India. Despite repeated clarification that the efficacy of the drug is co-dependent on diet, lifestyle corrections, fitness routines and, most importantly, baseline fitness and health, the drug is seen as manna from heaven. ______________________________________________________________ . This leads to the individual surrendering to a false sense of well-being.

Samar, a young man from a village in Tripura is a social media star who hopes to make it big as a model and actor. While his minute-long videos are very popular, his series titled, 'Who wore it better?' showcases his creative side. He uses a variety of filters and visual effects to improve his videos. __________________________________.

On the first day of January 2025, the Indian Meteorological Department [IMD] announced that 2024 was the hottest year on record. A study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water shows that nearly eight out of ten Indians live in districts that are at risk of either a flood, a cyclone, or a drought. Nearly twenty three States in India are heatwave-prone. __________________________. In the summer of 2024, India recorded more than 44,000 cases of heatstroke and over 300 heat-related mortalities, as per the bulletin of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Water reservoirs and the energy demand that keeps India powered are impacted too. During a ten-day long heatwave in Delhi, peak power demand was 16% higher than the previous year.

A study of the social and cultural context of Indian poetry in English reveals several important insights into its origin. Indian poetry in English began in Bengal, the province where the British first gained a stronghold. In addition, this poetry was a largely urban phenomenon, centered in Calcutta. ___________. Then, gradually, it moved to other urban centres such as Madras and Bombay. Even today, Indian poetry in English remains largely urban. Moreover, because English was an elite language, Indian poets writing in English came from the upper classes.

Few look forward to old age and all that it brings in its wake - deteriorating health, loss of vigour, restricted mobility, increasing dependence on others, not to mention a sense of foreboding and anxiety. Yet, one has to learn to cope with the onset of old age. Firstly, it is imperative to prepare to accept old age in spite of the restrictions or limitations it imposes on one's mobility. Equally important is the need to adopt a positive attitude towards life. _______________Above all, peace of mind, is the efficacious balm that brings equanimity to one's life. We must resign ourselves to growing old, and in the process let us try to make life as fulfilling and meaningful as possible.