Obesity epidemic of India

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Obesity in India is on the rise. It has reached enormous proportions. As I sit and count at airports, the number of women who look obviously overweight and obese, the figures I get is 8 out of 10. And this is around same in children of all sexes and around 6 in 10 men show clearcut overweight and obesity that is obvious even to naked eye. Anthropometric measurements might reveal more of them.  What are the likely causes? I have a theory that starts analysing these cases right from the 2000s or previous century. Junk food eating and sedantry lifestyle had already given an upward push to obesity in last century. And this also gave rise to diabetes mellitus in both men and women. Hence, such mothers also had diabetes in pregnancy. Some who did not have diabetes otherwise had gestational diabetes. From 2000 to 2026 prevalence of gestational diabetes has risen in india. It has even spread to rural areas and recent national data gives a figure of 22.4% which is almost 1 in 4 pregnant mot...
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Is coronavirus a pollutant?

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Coronavirus been infecting people and the air since the past year and a half. It is definitely a contaminant in the air and harmful to people. Can it be called a contaminant? 

Definition of pollutant 

A pollutant is "any solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal irritant or contaminant, including smoke, vapor, soot fumes, acids, alkalis, asbestos, chemicals, petroleum, petroleum products and petroleum by-products, and waste...."

So it is all inanimate things. But further be definition, 

Pollutants include, but are not limited to, substances which are generally recognized in the industry or by the government to be harmful or toxic to persons, property or the environment regardless of whether injury or damage is caused directly or indirectly by a pollutant. 

Is coronavirus a pollutant? 

There are various views on this. Since coronavirus is a contaminant, it might over the course of time be put in the category pollutant. But some states since 2006 have excluded viruses from the category of pollutants if the matter concerned is about it affecting business income. 

Coronavirus and world (Source: The Conversation) 

Covid does contaminate building and other surfaces. But it does not cause damage to these structures. It only affects humans. Also, the surfaces affected can be cleaned. Additionally, dome feel that pollutants are usually man-made and coronavirus is a natural thing if we exclude the accusations that China made it in the Wuhan lab. 

What is Desserto? 

But some argue that since coronavirus is a contaminant and affects humans directly it should come under the purview of a pollutant and included in that list. Additionally, many feel that it is a solid irritant and causes respiratory irritation. Hence it is like a pollutant and has to be included in that list. The courts will have to decide on it but again the opinions of the judges may vary on it. 

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