A recent survey by the Indian government shows that Indians are getting fatter. Obesity increased by more than 4% in both men and women in India in the last five years. More alarmingly, it also became more prevalent in children under the age of five years.

Experts say too much body fat increases the risk of serious diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart problems, and lung conditions. In 2021, obesity accounted for 2.8 million deaths globally.

So what’s going on? Is a sedentary lifestyle responsible for obesity, or readily available fast-food options? Are Indians genetically inclined to put on too much fat? And what can be done to lose weight effectively while maintaining a healthy daily routine?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the reasons behind India’s obesity problem and ways to counter it.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Every year, the month of June now comes associated with the colours of the rainbow. It’s celebrated as Pride Month to commemorate the struggle for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how brands can avoid rainbow washing.

In India, reports of rising Islamophobia and hyper-nationalism are posing serious concerns. The past few weeks have been particularly tense. Several Islamic countries have confronted India over offensive comments against Prophet Muhammad by a spokesperson of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Indian government has been trying to limit the damage from the controversy. But critics say the situation has worsened because of a studied silence by the country’s top leadership over increasing cases of Islamophobia and hate speech in the country.

Is this polarisation now affecting India’s interests on the global stage? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether India’s global image is taking a hit over rising Islamophobia.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Acid attacks remain a big issue in India. In most cases, the perpetrators are men, who throw acid on women for rejecting their advances. According to official statistics, there were nearly 200 cases in 2020 - but campaigners say the actual number of attacks is much higher. There are tough laws in place, but implementation has been inadequate, and conviction rates are abysmally low.

So what happens to someone who has survived an acid attack? What does it take to recover from the shock, the trauma and the hatred associated with such a crime? In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the resilience of India’s acid attack survivors.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

As the Russia-Ukraine war continues with no end in sight, countries across the world are imposing new restrictions on food exports. Many countries have banned essential items such as edible oils, poultry and grains. Now experts fear this protectionist move by governments could lead to the worst food crisis the world has seen in decades.

India too, recently announced curbs on its wheat and sugar exports. The decision came after an unseasonal heatwave in the country affected crops and drove domestic prices to a record high. But critics say it could lead to further food inflation and price fluctuations.

Is India prepared to face the consequences of export bans from other countries as well? Will this move trigger further disruptions in the food supply chain?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the cost of India’s food nationalism.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the richest leagues in the world. It’s also among the most-followed sporting events. Over the last few years, the tournament has been known to shatter viewing records. But this year, television viewership dipped by more than 30% in the first few weeks of the season.

What led to this fall? Experts point out many reasons, from cricket overdose, to post-Covid lifestyle, to a variety of viewing platforms. But companies are worried about the fall in viewership, as it curtails the reach of their advertisements.

Is IPL cricket losing its sheen and crowd-pulling power? Does the game need to overhaul its format? Or is it just a phase until the next season begins?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether the IPL needs to reinvent itself.

India is the world’s third-largest producer of electricity, and three-quarters of this electricity comes from coal-based thermal power plants. But despite having one of the world’s largest coal reserves, the country is often teetering on the brink of a power crisis. Last year, it was an unexpected surge in demand as the economy picked up after a deadly Covid wave; this year, it’s been an earlier-than-expected intense heatwave coupled with the war in Ukraine that is making coal imports costly and unaffordable. In fact, the power crisis rose to such a level that over 100 passenger trains had to be cancelled to make way for coal carriages.

Streaming is now the main growth driver for music revenues worldwide. In India, music streaming is estimated to cross $870m by 2025. According to a recent study, Indians also listen to more music than the rest of the world - over 19 hours a week, compared to 18 hours globally. And nearly 67% of this music is consumed through social media sites or apps. With those kinds of figures - what kind of effect is this having on young artists, who are often told, told, “It’s the future of music” or, “It’s here to stay, so learn to work with it.”

How does this affect their creativity, and how do they deal with the pressure to gain more followers on social media? We discuss the perils and pitfalls of social media for aspiring artistes.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Photo: Watching a concert on a mobile phone Credit: Getty Images

Encouraging a quick transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is at the heart of India’s efforts to overhaul its transportation industry. It’s also because transport accounts for more than 140 million tonnes of carbon emissions - making it the third-largest emitter of CO2 in India. Sales of EVs have been going up consistently in the last few years, leading to suggestions that the industry is about to hit a turning point, but a recent spate of fire incidents in electric two-wheelers has raised severe safety concerns and experts say it’s time for the government to bring in proper regulation and safety standards in the EV industry.

How hard has consumer confidence been hit? Would incentives to buy EVs fuel its adoption, or would people rather wait for the technology to become more reliable and opt for ICE (a conventional vehicle, powered by the internal combution engine) vehicles instead?

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Photo: A worker on an Electric Bike assembly line Credit: Getty Images

We live in a world with constantly mounting standards of beauty and fitness. For many, it turns into a rollercoaster of feeling anxious and getting reassurance from other people that they look good. Often, it turns into negative self-image; if left unchecked, it can become a serious disorder.

But is there just one way to be fit, or one ideal look? How important is it to be neutral about the diverse range of body shapes and appearances around us? And what can be the different ways to tackle body image concerns and disorders?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss ways of dealing with body shaming.

Presenter: Devina Gupta