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Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Nearly 81% advertisements on OTT platforms during ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 promoted unhealthy products: Study
A staggering 80.9 per cent of all advertisements aired on over-the-top (OTT) platforms during the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's World Cup held in India in October-November 2023 promoted tobacco, alcohol, and high-fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) products, a study has found. The study led by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (ICMR-NICPR) was published recently in the journal Frontiers in Digital Health. Dr Prashant Kumar Singh, lead author and senior scientist at ICMR-NICPR, told The Indian Express that the study provides the first systematic evidence from a low- and middle-income country showing how sporting events have become vehicles for promoting products that contribute to non-communicable diseases. A team of experts from ICMR-NICPR, Vital Strategies, Institute of Public Health Bengaluru, and AIIMS New Delhi conducted the research. Five trained researchers independently recorded data for cross-verification to ensure rigour and reduce biases. 'As India aims to reduce premature non-communicable disease (NCD) deaths by 25 per cent by 2025, we cannot allow commercial interests to undermine public health through unregulated digital platforms. Immediate policy intervention is crucial,' said Dr Shalini Singh, senior author and director of ICMR-NICPR. She also stressed that their findings revealed a concerning loophole in digital advertising regulation. 'While we have strict laws against tobacco and alcohol advertising, companies are exploiting OTT platforms through surrogate advertisements, particularly targeting the massive Indian cricket audience. With 422 million viewers exposed to these promotions, this represents a public health crisis hiding in plain sight,' said Dr Singh. Key findings The analysis of 341 hours of streaming across 48 matches revealed disturbing patterns of targeted marketing such as that 80.9 per cent of all advertisements (1,769 out of 2,118) promoted unhealthy products, 90.7 per cent of advertisements during India matches belonged to the unhealthy products category, and 86.7 per cent of surrogate tobacco advertisements were specifically aired during matches involving India. It also found that 60.6 per cent of unhealthy advertisements during over-breaks targeted products commonly consumed by children. A total of 422 million viewers in India were exposed to these promotions. Celebrity endorsements were common, with 17.5 per cent featuring Bollywood actors and 17 per cent featuring cricket celebrities. Children particularly vulnerable The study identified children as especially vulnerable targets, with edible products commonly consumed by them comprising the highest frequency of unhealthy advertisements during cricket breaks. Products included chocolates, potato chips, noodles, and biscuits – all heavily marketed during peak viewing times. Despite existing laws such as the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995, that prohibit direct tobacco and alcohol advertising, the study revealed that companies successfully circumvent these restrictions through surrogate advertising on digital platforms. 'The research showed a stark disparity in advertising patterns – surrogate tobacco advertisements were predominantly displayed during India matches (86.7 per cent) while being negligible during other countries' matches, indicating targeted marketing strategies,' Dr Singh said. Researchers called for immediate action, updated regulatory frameworks to encompass digital and OTT platforms, stricter enforcement mechanisms for surrogate advertising, specific protections for children given their vulnerability to advertisement-induced behaviours, and comprehensive monitoring of OTT platforms with clear consequences for non-compliance. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Nicotine addiction hasn't disappeared, it has simply shape-shifted'
Smokeless tobacco is the number one problem in India and there is an urgent need to strengthen laws and regulations to address it effectively,' Dr Shalini Singh, director of the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Cancer Prevention (ICMR-NICPR) and the World Health Organisation-Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) Global Knowledge Hub on Smokeless Tobacco told The Indian Express. On the sidelines of the World Conference of Tobacco Control under way at Dublin, Dr Singh observed that globally, cigarette smoking is on the decline — especially in high-income countries, where public health regulations have tightened and consumer behavior is shifting. 'But nicotine addiction hasn't disappeared; it has simply shape-shifted. The rise of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), synthetic nicotine pouches, and 'flavoured wellness' lozenges represents a quiet but aggressive reinvention of the nicotine business. These products are marketed as cleaner, safer, and even medicinal — often using the language of 'harm reduction'. While India has banned e-cigarettes, these new delivery systems pose a serious public health risk in countries with poor implementation of regulations,' Dr Singh said. India is already home to one of the largest populations of smokeless tobacco (SLT) and bidi users globally. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016–17, over 199 million Indians use SLT, 72 million smoke bidis, whereas only 37 million smoke cigarettes. Less than 4 per cent of tobacco users use any cessation pharmacotherapy, and over 70 per cent quit without formal help. 'This makes India an especially vulnerable target for the tobacco industry's new nicotine expansion strategy,' Dr Singh said. Harm reduction, when implemented as part of a comprehensive cessation strategy, has clinical value. But the tobacco industry has co-opted the term 'harm reduction' to further its own interests of reduced regulation and to expand its user base. While India banned e-cigarettes in 2019 under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, experts said the same industry has repackaged nicotine in non-combustible, e-cigarettes adjacent forms — such as synthetic nicotine pouches and gums — often marketed as herbal, Ayurvedic, or wellness products on Indian e-commerce platforms. 'This represents not only a strategic circumvention of the e-cigarette ban but also a continuation of the industry's practice of promoting products that protect profits while presenting a facade of supporting smoking cessation,' Dr Singh added. India permits over-the-counter (OTC) sale of 2 mg nicotine gums and lozenges, based on the assumption that easier accessibility would enhance tobacco cessation efforts. The 2 mg NRT formulation, particularly when used with behavioural counselling, can play a crucial role in reducing dependence on smoking tobacco. Global evidence is clear: NRTs are most effective when used with structured counselling and support, not when taken in isolation. Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including India, have NRTs in OTC markets and require integration with comprehensive cessation services. In India, the effectiveness of OTC NRT is further undermined by systemic challenges: the very low cost of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products like gutkha, khaini, and bidis; the online sales of nicotine products frequently bypass age restrictions;and the economic burden of NRT — where one week's supply often costs more than a month's worth of SLT or bidi. Without counselling support and affordability measures, OTC NRT risks becoming another market commodity rather than a true cessation aid,' Dr Singh pointed out. Long-term use of nicotine — whether through vaping, pouches, or even unsupervised NRT — poses real risks. Yet, these products are increasingly available through online platforms in India, marketed with no warning labels, no age-gating, and no evidence-based cessation claims, Dr Singh cautioned. Urgent policy priorities include banning of flavoured and industry-manufactured non-combustible nicotine products, including gums and pouches not intended for supervised cessation. There is a need to tightly regulate OTC NRT, especially in flavours and formulations attractive to youth; regulate all online sales of nicotine products with mandatory age verification, licensing, and product labelling.
Economic Times
22-06-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
All adults of one in five households in India are overweight, reveals new study
Agencies Representational image An alarming new study has found that all adults in two out of 10 households are either overweight or obese. Overweight is defined as a body weight higher than what is considered healthy for a given height, commonly assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI). A person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2. On the other hand, obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0 kg/m2 or greater. The study was conducted by researchers from ICMR-National Institute for Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), TERI School of Advanced Studies and Symbiosis International analysed data from the fifth round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in over 6 lakh households. The results found that nearly 20 per cent of the households had all adult members classified as overweight while 10 per cent of households had all adults classified as the number went higher up in states like Manipur, Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, where over 30 per cent of households had all adults overweight, according to the study, which was published in Public Health Journal. In Tamil Nadu and Punjab, 4o per cent households had all adults classified as obese. The proportion of households with all obese members was nearly twice as high in urban areas compared to rural study mentions that families are 'gaining weight together'. It reveals that if one family member is overweight or obese, others are significantly more likely to be obese/overweight as well. "This clustering pattern underscores the urgent need for family-centred approaches to obesity prevention rather than individual-focused interventions," lead researcher from ICMR-NICPR Prashant Kumar Singh. Director ICMR-NICPR Shalini Singh, said, "The household clustering of obesity and overweight represents a paradigm shift in how we understand obesity. This study tells us the family unit is the epicentre of this health challenge."The study warned that individuals in these family obesity clusters face heightened risk of developing multiple non-communicable diseases. It is already known that obesity serves as a marker for poor cardio-metabolic health and is known to be a gateway to numerous chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and heart failure. It is also linked to 13 types of cancer.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
All adults of one in five households in India are overweight, reveals new study
An alarming new study has found that all adults in two out of 10 households are either overweight or obese. Overweight is defined as a body weight higher than what is considered healthy for a given height, commonly assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI). A person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2. On the other hand, obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0 kg/m2 or greater. The study was conducted by researchers from ICMR-National Institute for Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), TERI School of Advanced Studies and Symbiosis International analysed data from the fifth round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in over 6 lakh households. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo The results found that nearly 20 per cent of the households had all adult members classified as overweight while 10 per cent of households had all adults classified as obese. Further, the number went higher up in states like Manipur, Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, where over 30 per cent of households had all adults overweight, according to the study, which was published in Public Health Journal. In Tamil Nadu and Punjab, 4o per cent households had all adults classified as obese. Live Events The proportion of households with all obese members was nearly twice as high in urban areas compared to rural regions. The study mentions that families are 'gaining weight together'. It reveals that if one family member is overweight or obese, others are significantly more likely to be obese/overweight as well. "This clustering pattern underscores the urgent need for family-centred approaches to obesity prevention rather than individual-focused interventions," lead researcher from ICMR-NICPR Prashant Kumar Singh. Director ICMR-NICPR Shalini Singh, said, "The household clustering of obesity and overweight represents a paradigm shift in how we understand obesity. This study tells us the family unit is the epicentre of this health challenge." The study warned that individuals in these family obesity clusters face heightened risk of developing multiple non-communicable diseases. It is already known that obesity serves as a marker for poor cardio-metabolic health and is known to be a gateway to numerous chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and heart failure. It is also linked to 13 types of cancer.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
All adults overweight in every 5th Indian household: Study
Danny generated AI Image NEW DELHI: In nearly two out of 10 households, all adults are either overweight or obese, a new study has found. Overweight is defined as a body weight higher than what is considered healthy for a given height, commonly assessed using Body Mass Index (BMI). A person is considered overweight if his or her BMI is between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2. On the other hand, obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0 kg/m2 or greater. Researchers from ICMR-National Institute for Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), TERI School of Advanced Studies and Symbiosis International analysed data from the fifth round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in over 6 lakh households. They found nearly 20% of the households had all adult members classified as overweight while 10% of households had all adults classified as obese. In states such as Manipur, Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, over 30% of households had all adults overweight, according to the study, which was published in Public Health Journal. In Tamil Nadu and Punjab, two out of five households had all adults classified as obese. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo The proportion of households with all obese members was nearly twice as high in urban areas compared to rural regions. A weighty issue The study reveals that families are literally 'gaining weight together'. When one family member is overweight or obese, others are significantly more likely to be obese/overweight as well, said the lead researcher from ICMR-NICPR Prashant Kumar Singh. "This clustering pattern underscores the urgent need for family-centred approaches to obesity prevention rather than individual-focused interventions." Director ICMR-NICPR Shalini Singh, said, "The household clustering of obesity and overweight represents a paradigm shift in how we understand obesity. This study tells us the family unit is the epicentre of this health challenge." The study warned that individuals in these family obesity clusters face heightened risk of developing multiple non-communicable diseases. It is already known that obesity serves as a marker for poor cardio-metabolic health and is known to be a gateway to numerous chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and heart failure. It is also linked to 13 types of cancer.
