WHO releases policy recommendations to protect children from harmful effects of food marketing
Food marketing involves the use of numerous persuasive techniques to influence children's food attitudes, preferences & consumption
Using sugar substitutes to lose weight could cause harm long-term, warns WHO
Continued consumption doesn’t reduce weight; could increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mortality in adults
Rising CO2 emissions may increase global iron deficiency risk
The estimated percentages of lost dietary iron under rising CO2 levels range from 1.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent
National action plan on antimicrobial resistance urges multi-sectoral initiative
Antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotic resistance, is a global public health threat, as antibiotics and antimicrobials are becoming …
Regulate stent prices to prevent exploitation of patients: health campaigners
While the government fixes the prices of stents, it must also take urgent action to investigate corrupt practices and overcharging
Food fortification is not magic bullet to fight malnutrition
The Supreme Court order on sourcing natural food locally instead of relying on artificially-fortified commercial products was hailed by experts
Antimicrobial resistance a ticking time bomb, warn world health experts
They were speaking at a live broadcast organised at the 69th World Health Assembly
Sharp drop in malaria cases, but three million people still at risk: WHO
The fastest rate of decrease in malaria was witnessed in Caucasus and Central Asia, which reported zero cases in 2014
Back to toilet school
On August 15, the government announced it had achieved the target of building toilets in all schools in India. But are these toilets functional?
Health of humans, livestock interlinked in Africa
Researchers have found a strong link between the number of illnesses among family members in a particular household and the number of livestock …
Two fruits that can prevent heart strokes
Cholesterol oxidation that leads to accumulation of lipids in the arterial wall often causes heart attacks
WHO should take a holistic view
Though the global health organisation talks about chemical residues in food, it has not put special emphasis on pesticides. It is also silent on …
Alarming increase in global use of antibiotics, India is the largest consumer
A research published in a medical journal has sounded an alarm on overuse and misuse of antibiotic drugs
Disease that never was
AIDS: THE FAILURE OF CONTEMPORARY SCIENCE·Neville Hodgkinson·£17.99· Fourth Estate, London
Virtual reality
A new computing laboratory can project larger than real life images of human body's smallest part
Utterly bovine
UK researchers claim the Mad Cow disease is caused by Indian animal feed imports; India rubbishes hypothesis
Political apathy, unplanned urbanisation make vector-borne diseases hard to control in India
Only 60 per cent of the total plan outlay for vector-borne diseases spent between 2007 to 2013; lack of co-ordination between ministries and …
Eat at your own risk
Junk food is bad for health. Its definition tells its inner story—food that is high on calories and saturated fat but low on nutrition.
How COVID-19 affects the brain
Inflammation of the brain; blood clots; damage to the nerves in the body — how COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV-2 affects the human brain&…
COVID-19: Sharp dip in TB cases during lockdown, timely diagnosis major worry
A 25% reduction in TB detection due to the COVID-19 pandemic in three months could lead to a 13% increase in TB deaths, according to WHO
Zika has unborn victims in Madhya Pradesh
As India fights its first Zika outbreak, Down To Earth finds a grievously unprepared response system in virus-hit districts of Vidisha and Bhopal …
Africa constitutes 40% of those affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases in world
Sub-Saharan Africa can save almost US $52 billion in the next decade by eliminating Neglected Tropical diseases by 2020
Why Africa's healthcare is struggling with basics
Without political will and robust investments in healthcare, Africa cannot break out of the underdevelopment trap
Restoring Karnataka’s forests can curb its monkey menace and Kyasanur disease outbreaks; here is how
Research has shown that the prevalence of Kyasanur Disease and density of ticks are highest in areas where forests are degraded
Brazil’s sewage woes reflect the growing global water quality crisis
Wastewater treatment systems are hamstrung by outdated tests that don't identify a growing array of pathogens