A new report published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology challenges the conventional definition of obesity, and urges a shift from the reliance on Body Mass Index (BMI) to a more nuanced approach. This is supported by over 50 global medical experts. The report also recommends splitting the term "obesity" into two categories: "Clinical obesity" and "Pre-clinical obesity". This aims to improve diagnosis and treatment for over a billion people worldwide living with obesity.

Clinically Obese

This applies to individuals whose obesity has progressed to a disease state, manifesting in organ damage, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or other health complications. These individuals could also experience symptoms like breathlessness, joint pain, or impaired daily functioning. Treatment also involves medical interventions, including weight-loss medications or surgery.

Pre-Clinic Obese

Whereas the term "pre-clinic obese" refers to those who are overweight but not yet exhibiting health issues. While they may be at risk of developing obesity-related conditions, their organ function and overall health remain intact. What they need is preventive care, which includes dietary guidance, counselling, and regular monitoring to avoid and reduce future health risks.

What does the study say?

The study, led by Professor Francesco Rubino from King's College London emphasizes that obesity is not one-size-fits-all condition. This means it should rather be treated as a spectrum as some individuals maintain normal organ function despite being classified as obese. There are others who may face severe health complications too. However, the current method of calculating obesity based on BMI often leads to misdiagnosis or inadequate care.

The report also states that BMI, while is useful for analyzing population trends, is a flawed unit of measuring individual health. Therefore, there is a need to redefine obesity, and healthcare professionals can provide more precise care by distinguishing those who need immediate medical intervention and those who require preventive strategies.

Limitations of BMI, Why It Falls Short?

BMI is used to classify individuals as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese based on their height and weight. It is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by health in meters squared. However, there are reasons while it falls short.

•Muscle vs Fat: Athletes or muscular individuals often have high BMIs despite the low body fat

•Fat Distribution: BMI does not measure fat around the waist or organs, which could be more dangerous to one's health.

•Individual Health Variation: It also overlooks the specific health conditions such as heart diseases or diabetes, or any other, while evaluating a person's category in terms of weight.

ALSO READ: Is It Time To Say Goodbye To BMI?

Scope Of Study

By redefining obesity, the study could transform the approach to diagnosis and treatment. It can focus on individual health risks rather than BMI alone. Healthcare providers can also offer tailored care. This also will ensure hat weight-loss medications like Wegovy or Mounjaro are prescribed only to those who genuinely require it.

As per Professor Louise Baur from the University of Sydney, a Children's obesity expert said that this redefinition allows both adults and children to receive more appropriate care while reducing over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatments.

When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, the conversation tends to centre on surgery, chemotherapy and targeted drugs. At She Takes Charge, a unique forum held in Delhi, eminent women oncologists turned to what comes with it: the fear, the diet confusion, the follow-ups, the return to work, and beyond just treating the cancer.

She Takes Charge brings leading women oncologists from across India onto one platform to improve breast cancer survivorship care. It extends the Take Charge campaign, launched by Novartis with Times Network in October 2025, which aims to help patients and their families advocate for themselves, hold informed discussions with their doctors and make the choices that are right for them. The campaign shifts the focus from survival alone to empowered living, with an emphasis on lowering the risk of recurrence while protecting quality of life. It reached around 90,000 people through its website last year.

The Delhi chapter, the first of the forum, was organised by Times Network and Novartis with the Hansa MedCell team, and was attended by oncologists in person and online. It is a pilot, meant to shape counselling toolkits for patients and paramedical staff around three themes: support, heal and empower.

In attendance were Dr Meenu Walia, Dr Pankaj Goyal, Dr Seema Singh, Dr Jyoti Wadhwa, Dr Priya Tiwari, Dr Saphalta Baghmar and Dr Kripa Bajaj. While, many joined virtually and included Dr Shalaka Joshi, Dr Shona Nag, Dr Jovita Martin and Dr Sailakshmi Dayana. Dr Priya Parmar, chief operating officer of the Indian Cancer Society in Delhi, who helped shape the Take Charge initiative, offered the patient perspective.

Information in her own language

“We need women to be armed with information,” Dr Parmar said, adding that it must come in a language the patient understands. She noted that a simple question such as “what should I eat” can hide something larger: a woman now living on dal, bhaat and aloo, and feeling guilty about what her illness has cost her family.

One size does not fit

Doctors suggested tailoring material by age, education and employment, and urged organisers to add economic status. Dr Dayana, a gynae-oncologist at Apollo Hyderabad, said women with a strong family history or a BRCA mutation need more intensive counselling, since they worry about what they may have passed on to their children. Others asked for separate content for women under 30, and for material that follows the treatment a patient is receiving.

Anticipate, then share the load

Moderating the support segment, Dr Walia said the aim is “treating the woman in totality.” She argued that side effects should be anticipated and managed early, with the whole treating team, including nurses and paramedical staff, ready to answer simple questions on food and nausea. One oncologist said the antiemetic section of the toolkit should reflect that a 2.5 mg dose of olanzapine, tested in a Tata Memorial randomised trial, had led to a change in NCCN guidelines.

Doctors also spoke of the burden on the treating oncologist. Patients in India often expect one doctor to explain the diagnosis, the treatment, the diet and the exercise, and some consultations run to an hour. Participants called for trained support staff and counsellors to share the work.

Video, volunteers and time alone

Doctors agreed that patients forget much of what they hear in the consulting room. Many now ask patients to record counselling sessions, and Dr Dayana said she wished for “a better and animated, a better edited video” to offer instead. Video was also seen as the way to reach women outside the metros, who may not see a specialist often. Dr Joshi described pre- and post-operative classes at her hospital, led by patient volunteers for almost a decade and now being converted into a QR code. Dr Baghmar urged oncologists to give each patient five to ten minutes alone, away from family members who often speak for her.

Myths on the plate

Diet drew the liveliest debate, with sugar, keto diets and boiled fruit coming up repeatedly. Dr Joshi’s advice was simple: “roti, sabzi, dal, rice is a kind of a square Indian meal that cannot go wrong.” Another oncologist said she sets no restrictions beyond avoiding food that is too spicy, too oily or cooked by someone whose hygiene is unknown. One doctor raised weight gain after treatment, noting that some patients on endocrine therapy ask about weight-loss injections. The advice was to check thyroid function and see an endocrinologist, not to give blanket advice.

On exercise, doctors favoured mild activity such as walking and yoga during treatment and strength work afterwards, always cleared by the treating oncologist. The group agreed to build evidence-based consensus documents on diet and sexual well-being.

Beyond the breast

Participants asked for content on contraception, pregnancy after treatment, genetic testing, screening for other cancers, breast prostheses, health insurance and caregivers, described by one doctor as a neglected pillar of cancer care. Doctors also flagged two issues that are often missed. Young women need counselling on preserving their eggs before chemotherapy, and some patients develop shoulder and spine problems after mastectomy that are mistaken for other pain. Follow-up testing was another gap: doctors said some clinicians still order routine chest X-rays, and the group wants a consensus on which scans are needed.

Novartis demonstrated two tools: an offline HTML tool for HR-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer that walks patients through a treatment plan, and a patient microsite that adds follow-ups and medication reminders to a phone calendar. Feedback from She Takes Charge will feed into a white paper.

Ahead of Diwali festivities, Delhi is once again battling its annual air pollution crisis. The city's air quality index (AQI) - which measures PM2.5, fine particulate matter, has crossed 500 in some regions, entering the "hazardous" category, raising health concerns for millions in the capital.

The effects of air pollution are not just limited to physical health. Apart from your lungs and heart, long-term exposure to toxic air can render you feeling anxious, stressed, demotivated and mentally fatigued.

The reason behind this is not one-fold. The worsening of mental health due to air pollution is a culmination of many factors.

From particulate matter triggering inflammation and negatively affecting the body’s stress response to restrictions on outdoor activities, disturbance in sleep and lack of physical activity, air pollution contributes to mental health burden in many ways.

Dr Varsha Viswanathan, psychiatrist at Athulya Senior Care and Athulya Geriatric Care Hospital, Chennai, told HealthandMe that particulate matter in polluted air can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammatory responses.

She explained, “This may lead to oxidative stress and affect brain functions involved in mood regulation, attention, memory and emotional processing. Over time, these changes may contribute to increased irritability, mood disturbances and difficulty managing emotional responses.”

Air Pollution & Stress

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PM2.5, consists of tiny airborne particles that can penetrate into the lungs. Some can even enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation and oxidative stress. These effects may also affect the brain and its functions.

Cortisol is a hormone related to the body’s response to stress. Changes in stress regulation due to pollution may make it harder for some individuals to manage everyday challenges. Dr Viswanathan explains that air pollution may also affect the body’s stress-response system.

“Repeated exposure to environmental pollutants can affect the regulation of stress hormones such as cortisol. This may increase physiological stress and contribute to symptoms such as restlessness, heightened alertness, difficulty relaxing and persistent feelings of tension,” she says.

Air Pollution & Anxiety

Also read: Air Pollution In Delhi: Experts Warn Of Red Eyes, Itching, Watering In Children

Apart from stress, living in highly polluted cities can also cause one to feel constantly uncomfortable, uncertain and anxious. Kakul Faruqi, Senior Consultant Psychologist at LH Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai, told HealthandMe that pollution can become a source of fear and withdrawal.

She said that someone who is prone to anxiety, breathing difficulty may be interpreted as a sign of immediate danger, which could trigger further fear and distress.

“Psychologically speaking, pollution can be a source of discomfort, fear and withdrawal. A coughing fit, trouble breathing and insomnia can exhaust an individual, making it more difficult for him or her to cope with daily stresses. An individual who is susceptible to panic attacks can experience fear and negative interpretations of physical symptoms due to trouble breathing,” Faruqi explains.

She also said that repeated exposure can also make the threat feel inescapable. Faruqi says that when individuals perceive pollution as a problem beyond their control, the resulting uncertainty can become extremely overwhelming.

Lack Of Outdoor Time May Contribute To Depression

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Faruqi explains that pollution can make it harder to engage in behaviours that support psychological health.

When pollution levels are high, people normally avoid spending time outside socialising, exercising, walking, and spending time in green spaces. These activities often provide opportunities for physical movement, social connection and relaxation. Missing out on these activities can affect one emotional and mental well-being.

“The reduction in outlets for relaxation, in addition to experiencing feelings of loneliness and frustration, can lead to depression,” she says.

Dr Viswanathan also highlights how poor air quality can disrupt sleep, physical activity and normal social routines, which could further worsen mental well-being.

“Inadequate sleep and reduced physical activity can, in turn, affect emotional regulation, concentration and the ability to cope with everyday stress,” she says.

How To Protect Your Mental Health When AQI Is High?

When AQI is high, it is important to reduce exposure but at the same time, maintaining routines that help psychological well-being is also important. Faruqi recommends checking air quality in one’s locality, adjusting exercise habits accordingly and making an effort to preserve sleep and social interaction.

Some practical measures include:

• Adjust outdoor activities: Check local air quality levels and move exercise indoors when pollution is high. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during severe pollution.

• Maintain physical activity: Indoor exercise can help preserve movement and routine when outdoor conditions are unsuitable.

• Protect sleep: Maintain regular sleep and wake times, and reduce indoor pollution where possible.

• Stay socially connected: Continue interacting with friends and family, even when outdoor meetings are difficult.

• Limit repeated pollution checking: Stay informed through reliable sources, but avoid continuously monitoring pollution levels without taking practical steps to reduce exposure.

• Seek professional support: Constant anxiety, depressive symptoms or difficulty carrying out everyday activities should not be ignored.

Faruqi advises that “if one experiences persisting anxiety, depression, or impairment in functioning, a visit to a mental health professional would be advisable.”

Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 weight loss pill, Wegovy, has been approved in Australia for sale. An alternative to weekly weight loss injections, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has cleared Wegovy, which contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient found in GLP-1 weight loss injections: Wegovy and Ozempic.

The pill received TGA approval on November 3, 2026, and is expecting to reach the shelves by Christmas.

It is prescribed to eligible adults to help manage chronic obesity along with lifestyle changes. It is also approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in eligible patients.

Until now, Australians seeking GLP-1 medication for weight management have primarily had access to injectable formulations. The tablet offers a different approach.

How Does The Wegovy Weight Loss Pill Work?

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The new tablet contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the action of the naturally occurring glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone.

GLP-1 medications act on appetite regulation. They help users feel full, reduce cravings and slow stomach emptying, which can lead to lower calorie intake and weight loss.

Unlike injectable Wegovy, which is administered once a week, this tablet should be taken every day.

The TGA has approved four tablet strengths for sale: 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg. Treatment starts at a lower dose, which is gradually increased over approximately 16 weeks under medical supervision. The tablet also has specific use requirements. Patients must:

• Take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
• Swallow it with a small amount of water.
• Avoid eating, drinking or taking other oral medications for at least 30 minutes afterwards.

The fasting instructions are important because semaglutide is absorbed less efficiently when taken orally. So following that instruction is crucial as a 25 mg tablet has to achieve an effect comparable to the 2.4 mg weekly injectable Wegovy dose.

Eligibility For GLP-1 Weight Loss Pill In Australia

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The TGA approval covers adults who meet specific weight-related criteria. These include:

• Adults with obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
• Adults who are overweight, with a BMI between 27 and 30, and have at least one weight-related health condition.

These conditions may include high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease or other weight-related complications.

The medication is also approved to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in eligible adults with cardiovascular disease and those who are overweight or obese but don’t have diabetes.

However, approval does not mean everyone meeting these criteria should automatically take the medication. A doctor must assess your health, medical history, and risks before prescribing it.

Dr Brendan Hanrahan, an obesity medicine specialist at Brisbane's Wesley Hospital, welcomed wider access to the medication, saying GLP-1 drugs have "lived up to and exceeded the hype". However, he questioned whether BMI alone is enough to determine eligibility.

He suggested waist circumference could offer some information about health risks, saying that some people may experience complications related to weight even when their BMI falls within the ‘normal’ healthy range.

Side Effects And Risks Of Wegovy

The oral pill does not eliminate the side effects associated with semaglutide. Common adverse effects include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Abdominal discomfort
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

Gastrointestinal symptoms can sometimes lead to dehydration, which may increase the risk of kidney problems.

The TGA also warns about more serious complications, including acute pancreatitis and diabetic retinopathy. People with diabetes, particularly those with pre-existing eye disease, may need clinical monitoring.

Semaglutide is not recommended during pregnancy, and people planning to become pregnant should discuss treatment and timing with their doctor.

The TGA has also warned of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviours linked with GLP-1 medications.