You’ve waved goodbye to cookies, chips, and everything else that comes in a shiny wrapper, but the scale refuses to budge. It can be disheartening when cutting out processed foods doesn’t translate into immediate weight loss.

While eliminating junk food is an essential first step, weight loss often requires more nuanced adjustments. Studies, including a 2019 publication in Cell Metabolism, reveal that processed foods can lead to increased calorie consumption — about 500 extra calories daily compared to whole, unprocessed diets. While cutting out junk food is a commendable step, achieving sustainable weight loss requires a holistic approach.

But sometimes, ditching junk food isn’t enough. Here are five key reasons why your weight loss journey may be stalling, and how you can get back on track.

1. Your Sleep Schedule Is Sabotaging Your Goals

The connection between sleep and weight is often overlooked but crucial. Both too much sleep (over 9 hours) and too little (under 5 hours) can disrupt your body’s production of appetite-regulating hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin. This hormonal imbalance can increase cravings and overeating, particularly for high-calorie foods.

Additionally, poor sleep can leave you feeling fatigued, making it harder to stick to exercise routines.

How to Fix It: Aim for 7–8 hours of quality sleep per night. Establish a consistent bedtime routine and minimize screen time before bed to improve sleep hygiene.

2. Liquid Calories Are Sneaking Into Your Diet

You may have switched to a "healthier" drink lineup, but beverages like fruit juices, sugary coffee drinks, and wine can contain hidden calories that derail progress. Even organic fruit juices, often marketed as healthful, are loaded with sugar and lack the fiber found in whole fruits.

How to Fix It: Stick to water, unsweetened tea, black coffee, or sparkling water. To manage hunger, drink two cups of water 30 minutes before meals—a strategy backed by research in the Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine. Treat calorie-laden drinks as occasional indulgences rather than daily staples.

3. Meal Timing Is Working Against You

When and how often you eat can significantly influence weight loss. Skipping meals can lead to overeating later, while constant grazing throughout the day can result in unnoticed calorie overload.

Studies show that front-loading your calories, with a substantial breakfast and lighter evening meals, promotes greater weight loss. Research published in the journal Obesity found that individuals consuming larger breakfasts lost twice the weight compared to those who favored bigger dinners.

How to Fix It: Stick to eating every 3.5 to 4 hours during a 10–12-hour daytime window. This approach stabilizes blood sugar and encourages fat reserves to be used for energy between meals.

4. You’re Overcompensating for Exercise

Exercise is a cornerstone of weight loss, but it’s easy to overestimate the calories burned and indulge in post-workout treats. That post-spin class protein shake or granola bar may negate your calorie deficit if not balanced within your daily intake.

How to Fix It: Plan snacks strategically. If your workout falls within two hours of a meal, skip the extra snack and refuel during your regular meal. If you need a snack, opt for small, protein-rich options like Greek yogurt or a handful of nuts.

5. Water Intake Is Falling Short

Water plays an underrated role in weight loss. Staying hydrated helps control hunger and reduces the temptation to reach for sugary drinks. Dehydration, on the other hand, can be mistaken for hunger, leading to unnecessary snacking.

How to Fix It: Drink 2–6 cups of water daily to satisfy thirst without adding calories. Carry a reusable water bottle as a visual reminder to stay hydrated throughout the day.

What Other Factors Can Hinder Weight Loss

Sitting for long hours, whether at a desk or on the couch, can slow your metabolism and disconnect your body’s natural hunger cues. Incorporating even short bursts of activity, like three 10-minute walks daily, can reignite your metabolism.

Stress often leads to comfort eating, favoring calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation or journaling, can help address the emotional triggers behind overeating.

Medical conditions, genetics, or hormonal imbalances can also impede weight loss. If your efforts yield no results, consult a healthcare professional for tests or guidance tailored to your needs.

Weight loss isn’t linear, and small, consistent adjustments are more effective than drastic overhauls. By identifying and tackling these hidden barriers, you can set yourself up for lasting success on your health journey.

Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain. Cell Metabolism. 2019

Effect of excessive water intake on body weight, body mass index, body fat, and appetite of overweight female participants. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2014

While thalassemia is known widely as a blood disorder, its impact can extend far beyond anemia and transfusions, said experts on World Thalassemia Day today.

World Thalassemia Day is observed every year on May 8 to raise awareness about the inherited blood disorder caused by faulty genes.

The disorder, which often requires blood transfusions every fortnight, affects approximately 1.3 million people living with severe forms of thalassemia worldwide. About 1.5 percent of the global population is carriers, and the disease claims nearly 11,000 lives annually.

Speaking to HealthandMe, health experts raised concerns about the growing mental health and neurological challenges faced by patients, especially children and young adults living with the condition.

Dr. Praveen Gupta, Chairman – Marengo Asia International Institute of Neuro & Spine (MAIINS), Gurugram, shared that repeated blood transfusions are important and save the lives of thalassemia patients, but long-term transfusion therapy can potentially lead to neurological complications if not properly monitored.

“Chronic transfusions can cause iron overload, which is the accumulation of iron in critical organs such as the brain, and may impact cognitive and psychological function, as well as mood,” Dr. Gupta explained.

He added that "changes in oxygen supply and related complications may make patients more vulnerable to headaches, lethargy, or even undetected brain injury".

However, experts stress that most neurological complications can be prevented through multidisciplinary care, iron chelation therapy, and regular monitoring.

Can Thalassemia Affect Brain Development in Children?

The expert stated that thalassemia may also indirectly affect brain development in children, particularly when severe anemia continues for long periods and limits oxygen supply to the growing brain.

Dr. Gupta noted that poor oxygenation, nutritional deficiencies, iron overload from repeated transfusions, and metabolic complications may affect:

• Cognitive function
• Learning ability
• Attention span
• Overall neurodevelopment
• Early warning signs may include:
• Delayed speech
• Difficulty concentrating
• Poor school performance
• Frequent headaches
• Irritability
• Developmental delays

Also read: World Thalassemia Day 2026: Why Screening Before Marriage Or Pregnancy Is Important

Early Signs Parents Should Not Ignore

Dr. Vipin Khandelwal, Sr. Consultant Paediatric Haemato Oncology & BMT at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai, told HealthandMe that thalassemia affects the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, and prolonged disruption can impact growth, immunity, bone health, and learning abilities.

“The early signs of thalassemia are often subtle, which is why many families miss them until anemia becomes severe,” he said.

Parents should watch for persistent symptoms such as:

• Unusual tiredness
• Pale appearance
• Poor appetite
• Difficulty gaining weight
• Delayed growth
• Delayed walking or speech
• Reduced stamina
• Bone pain
• Recurrent weakness

He stressed that while thalassemia is inherited, many serious complications can be prevented with early diagnosis, regular check-ups, timely transfusions, and proper iron monitoring.

Why Depression and Anxiety Are Common Among Thalassemics?

Read More: Hantavirus Updates Of The Day: 8 May 2026 - US CDC Classifies Outbreak As 'Level 3' Emergency

Further, the experts also highlighted risk of anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, and depression among people with thalassemia who face lifelong blood transfusions, frequent hospital visits, leading to physical fatigue, and fear of complications. Over time, these challenges may increase, many often go unnoticed or untreated.

Dr. Roshan Dikshit, Senior Consultant, Haematology & Bone Marrow Transplant at Aakash Healthcare, told HealthandMe that thalassemia is not only a physical health condition, but also an emotional and psychological challenge. He stressed the need to provide mental support to thalassemic patients.

“Frequent hospital visits, lifelong blood transfusions, fear of complications, and social limitations can increase the risk of anxiety, stress, and depression, especially among teenagers and young adults,” said Dr. Roshan Dikshit, Senior Consultant, Haematology & Bone Marrow Transplant at Aakash Healthcare.

According to Dr. Dikshit, many patients struggle with:

• Low self-esteem
• Isolation
• Emotional fatigue.

Importantly, these emotional challenges often go unnoticed.

“Mental health support should be considered an essential part of thalassemia care. Counseling, family support, social acceptance, and open communication can significantly improve a patient’s emotional well-being and quality of life,” he said.

He also emphasized that early psychological intervention can help patients cope better with the disease and reduce the long-term mental health burden associated with chronic illness.

For most children, a swimming pool is all about fun: summer afternoons, splashing around, and playing with friends. It feels harmless, even healthy, and in many ways, it is. But over time, a small pattern has started to show up. Parents notice it after a swimming session: red eyes, constant rubbing, and sometimes complaints of burning or discomfort that were not there before. It does not always seem serious in the beginning, which is probably why it gets ignored. Still, it keeps happening often enough to be worth paying attention to.

In an interview with Health and Me, Dr Neeraj Sanduja, Director, Viaan Eye & Retina Centre, Gurugram, explained how swimming pool time could be giving your children eye infections.

What’s Really Causing the Problem

It is easy to assume the water is the issue, but that is only part of it. Most pools are treated with chlorine, which is necessary to keep them clean. The problem starts when chlorine mixes with other things that end up in the water: sweat, dirt, and even small amounts of urine. That mix creates compounds that can irritate the eyes.

Children are more likely to be affected because they spend more time in the water and often open their eyes while swimming. The natural layer that protects the eyes gets disturbed, and that is when the redness or burning starts. In some cases, it is not just irritation. If the pool is not maintained properly, there is also a risk of infections. Conjunctivitis, for example, can spread quite easily in shared water.

What Parents Usually Notice First

The signs are not always dramatic. In fact, they are easy to miss at first. A child may come back with slightly red eyes and say they sting a bit or keep rubbing them without thinking much of it. Sometimes there is watering that does not settle quickly.

If it is just mild irritation, it usually improves within a few hours. But if the redness stays, or there is itching, swelling, or discharge, it is likely to be something more than just chlorine exposure. That is usually the point at which it needs attention.

Small Things That Actually Help

The good part is that this is mostly preventable. Swimming goggles make a difference. Not everyone likes wearing them, especially younger children, but they do help keep the eyes protected. A proper fit matters; otherwise, water still gets in.

Rinsing the face and eyes with clean water after getting out of the pool is another simple step. It helps wash away whatever is left behind. Also, children tend to rub their eyes when they feel discomfort. That only makes things worse. It is a small habit, but one that needs to be corrected gently. And then there is the pool itself. A clean-looking pool is not always a safe one. Maintenance matters more than appearance.

When It Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Most of the time, these issues settle quickly, but not always. If the same problem keeps coming back after every swim, or if the symptoms last beyond a day, it is better to get it checked. Waiting it out does not always help. Children may not always explain clearly what they are feeling. So, small changes, like avoiding light or blinking more than usual, can be signs that something is not right.

Finding the Right Balance

Swimming is still one of the best activities for children. It keeps them active, helps them relax, and is something they genuinely enjoy. The idea is not to stop it, just to be a little more careful. A few small steps can go a long way in preventing discomfort later. And once that becomes part of the routine, the experience stays what it is meant to be: fun, safe, and worry-free.

Every year, millions of people around the world receive a cancer diagnosis—and nearly as many receive a flood of well-meaning but dangerously incorrect advice. From social media posts to family folklore, myths about cancer are pervasive, and they can delay treatment, fuel panic, or give false comfort when vigilance is needed. this crisis of misinformation at the clinical frontline. “Patients sometimes arrive having avoided medical care for months because they believed a natural remedy would suffice.

The World Health Organization estimates that between 30 and 50 percent of all cancers are preventable. Tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and certain infections together account for a large proportion of global cases. Awareness and early action are the most powerful tools available. Cancer is not one disease but over 100 distinct conditions, each with its own biology, risk factors, and treatment pathways. This complexity is part of why myths take hold so easily.

What is cancerism?

Dr Amish Vora, MBBS, MD, DNB, DM- AIIMS Delhi, Medical Oncologist, Director of H.O.P.E. Oncology Clinic, New Delhi, defines "cancerism" as encompassing three deeply interrelated phenomena:

Fear and Stigma: The pervasive fear and social stigma attached to a cancer diagnosis, which can cause patients to conceal their illness, avoid seeking help, and suffer in silence. Dr Vora argues this fear is often as damaging as the disease itself.

Misconceptions and Myths: The widespread false beliefs about cancer—its causes, treatment, and curability—that circulate through communities, social media, and word of mouth, leading patients to delay or abandon proven medical care.

Discrimination: The direct discrimination faced by cancer patients in workplaces, families, and communities—from job loss to social isolation—which compounds their suffering and undermines recovery.

“Cancerism is as real and as harmful as the cancer itself,” says Dr Vora. “Addressing it requires the same urgency we apply to developing new treatments. We cannot cure cancer in a society that is still afraid to say the word.”

Common Myths and Facts About Cancer

Drawing on his clinical experience and the framework of Cancerism, Dr Vora identifies the following as the most dangerous and persistent misconceptions he encounters:

Cancer is always fatal.

Many cancers are treatable. When caught early, 5-year survival rates exceed 90% for several types, including breast, skin, and prostate cancer.

Sugar directly feeds and grows cancer cells.

All cells use glucose for energy, not just cancer cells. Cutting out sugar will not starve a tumour. The science does not support this claim.

Cancer is purely genetic—if it runs in your family, you’ll get it.

Only 5-10% of cancers are hereditary. Lifestyle and environmental factors account for the vast majority of cases.

Biopsies and surgery cause cancer to spread.

There is no credible scientific evidence that biopsies cause cancer to spread. Avoiding or delaying diagnosis is far more dangerous.

A positive attitude alone can cure cancer.

Mental well-being and emotional support are important for quality of life, but they cannot replace evidence-based medical treatments.

Deodorants and antiperspirants cause breast cancer.

Major studies including those by the National Cancer Institute have found no link between antiperspirant use and breast cancer risk.

Cancer is not contagious—you can catch it from someone.

Cancer cannot be transmitted person to person. It is not an infectious disease. You cannot catch it through proximity or contact.

Mobile phones cause brain cancer.

Decades of research have found no conclusive evidence that mobile phone use causes brain tumours. Major health bodies concur on this.

Superfoods can prevent or cure cancer.

No single food has proven cancer-preventing or curative properties. A balanced overall diet reduces risk, but there are no miracle foods.

If you feel fine, you don’t have cancer.

Many cancers are asymptomatic in their early stages. Regular screening is the only reliable way to detect them before symptoms appear.