MediWeek

The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise limiting screen time exposure to one hour per day for children aged 2 to 5 years. With rapid advances in the digital technology and easy access to digital devices in the recent years, it is not surprising that these guidelines are not adhered to […]

The World Health Organization identified sedentary lifestyle as the 4th leading cause of death globally, impacting approximately 1.5 billion people and contributing to at least 3.2 million deaths annually. Walking is one of the easiest forms of physical activity, but the optimal number of steps needed for noticeable health benefits remain uncertain. A recent meta-analysis

Exercise training is one of the proven lifestyle modification techniques for reductions in blood pressure (BP) in people with hypertension [1]. Isometric exercise training (IET), also known as static strength training, is recognized as a potential modality for lowering both systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP). It involves static, tightening (contractions) exercises of a

Consuming a poor diet is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Current guidelines from the American Heart Association and Diabetes organizations as well as supportive evidence from clinical studies emphasize on vegetarian diets for prevention of  heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and some of its metabolic complications. Though the benefits of vegetarian

Excessive consumption of soft drinks, particularly sugar-sweetened beverages, is linked with weight gain in children and adolescents; however, there is limited data available on the association of soft drink consumption with the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents. A study by Hu H et al., recently published in the journal “JAMA Network Open”, reported

Guidelines on physical activity recommendations for adults emphasize that “Adults should move more and sit less throughout the day and some activity is better than none”. The American Medical Association highlights the recommendations for intensity, time, and type of physical activity required to obtain optimum health benefits (Graphic 1). This recent report published in “JAMA”

A rising trend in sedentary behaviors, including television (TV) viewing and other modes of screen time, is seen in the younger population, particularly after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. According to the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, excessive TV watching among children and adolescents (aged 5–15 years) is associated with poor health in their

Meal timing plays a vital role in regulating circadian rhythms and glucose and lipid control.However, there is paucity of data investigating the relationship between meal timing and the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). A study by Palomar-Cros et al., published recently in the “International Journal of Epidemiology”, reported that eating meals early, i.e., first

Unhealthy diet is considered a chief factor for death and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Numerous prospective cohort studies have revealed the correlation of specific foods, nutrients, and dietary habits with CVD, which forms the basis of current nutritional recommendations. Lately, studies have also confirmed that certain dietary exposures, such as whole-fat dairy (previously believed to promote

Globally, anemia is highly prevalent among women of reproductive age. At least 20 million women worldwide have severe anemia. As maternal blood hemoglobin level decreases, the risk of maternal and infant death during pregnancy increases. A new study recently published in the journal, “Lancet”, reported that moderate-to-severe prebirth anemia among women increases the risk of