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In the present times, there is a high influence caused by social media platforms in case of body image issues faced by an individual. Pregnancy is a stage for women where they go through several mental and physical changes. Realizing the inseparable role played by social media in this aspect, it is an attempt here to determine the effect caused by social media on the body image of pregnant women as well for those in their post-partum stages. The PRISMA method is used by the authors to arrive at 55 research papers from the Scopus databases that are systematically reviewed. The authors' review reveals that social media can have both negative and positive effects on women's perception of body image during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to explore how minimal-self impacts the body image, projecting it as a reflection of one's approach toward their health and mental well-being. Methods: The study takes qualitative data from two countries India and Germany and draws on a qualitative study of 20 individuals who are involved in some kind of physical activity for a long time. This paper examines the body image perspectives fromGrimms Brothers fairytale characters showcasing fit and healthy perspectives on Snow White side and projected and superfluous perspectives on Evil Queen side. The study also provides a model deciphering the rationale for both the reflections. Results: The body image projection from Snow White perspectives (success & dedication, self-esteem, bodybuilding, and cosmetic surgery) relates to positive reflection of oneself with focus on fitness, discipline, and mental rejuvenation in life. Notably, Evil Queen perspectives (unrealistic makeover, dark side of social media, gain an edge over others, and mental benchmarking with fair skin) reveal these facets as motivators to equip their body as means of physical non-verbal communication assets. Conclusion: Analysis shows that there is no clear white or black viewof health and fitness projection via body image but it's a gray line that gives wholesome fitness either a holistic mental peace or a competitive or success-oriented approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our standards of beauty have become sufficiently diverse. However, the representation of older women continues to be marginalized in mainstream media platforms, with the dominant ageist message revolving around the notion of 'failure.' For a woman, the 'horrors' of aging are felt more conspicuously, which renders her a devalued commodity. Within Indian society, aging is further contested by varied socio-cultural factors that prescribe an older woman to dress, behave and act according to her age and firmly reprimand any transgression from normative practices. This paper explains the complexities related to the prevailing aging/anti-aging discourses and discerns how older women influencers engage in challenging the negative stereotypes (like body shaming and sexageist derision) through the model of successful aging. Through select Instagram handles, the study analyses how the graying individuals collectively seek to direct or reclaim their power to forge alternative narratives/perspectives that encourage the aging/aged self to 'be' in her skin. The visual content from the Instagram profiles of Manjri Varde, Ravi Bala Sharma, Rajani Chandy, Seema Anand, and Usha Soman, who serve as representatives of redefining aging with purpose, has been critically analyzed. The results obtained have delineated how the social networking site has emerged as a space of resistance and empowerment- redefining beauty, desire, and agency within the contemporary youth-centric Indian culture and rendering possibilities that one can explore while growing old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to show Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi as one of the significant propelling factors/actors who choreographed one of the most effective, followed by one of the most heartwrenching, performances in India's struggle for independence. After the success of his famous Dandi March against the British Salt Tax in colonial India on the 6th of April 1930, Gandhi planned another non-violent incursion of the Dharasana Salt Works in Gujrat. The declaration of his intentions to Lord Irwin led to immediate arrests of Gandhi and many other prominent Congress leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Undeterred the march was planned forward under the leadership of Abbas Tyabji and Kasturba. Consequently, they too were arrested. Finally, it was Sarojini Naidu and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who led the protestors to the Dharasana Salt Works. After 28 hours of non-violent sit-in, and several arrests, the protestors attempted to enter the site and were mercilessly beaten up by the police. This paper revisits these two non-violent protests at a very crucial stage in the history of India's struggle for freedom, the Dandi March, and the Dharasana Salt Work raid. The modalities of these two protests were different. One focussed solely on peaceful marching and the making of contraband salt (which included natural salt and salt earth that were deemed illegal by the British government) by Gandhi in the shores of Dandi; and the other focussed on a march to Dharasana followed by a peaceful sit-in as well as offering a spectacle of confronting and absorbing violence. These were deliberate strategic moves to show the country and the world that it was time for the unjust and brutal British government to quit India. The paper attempts to show how bodies, under the tutelage of Gandhi, made deliberate coherent choices. A study of these protests shows the human body as a repository of signs and codes. Bodies may be used as vehicles of outrage and yet they can exhibit control and dignity in their capability of walking long paths as well as absorbing physical brutalities with a patience that can create fear in the hostile bodies that cause those brutalities. At a time when most protests are limited to online spread of petitions, and yet at also a time when India is waking up to numerous street protests and sit-ins from Shaheen Bagh8 to Singhu Border9, the paper focuses on how actual corporeal intrusion can bring about a crucial change. Gandhi, one of the pioneers of non-violent protests, recognised the crucial role that physicality plays in meaningful protests, in creating and promoting individual and mass agency as well as sociality. The paper attempts a choreopolitical analysis of the street protests and seeks answers to--how these bodies perform in the protests? Why did Gandhi choose "salt", "march", "Dandi" and "Dharasana" as major motifs of these protests? How do the protestors manipulate their own bodies? As spectacles, what impact do these protesting bodies have on the onlookers? How can we connect Gandhi's daily routine and a construction of a particular image of his body with the crucial moments of protests that in turn inspire the bodies that participate in the process of training their bodies into rigid non-cooperation as well as flexible sites that absorb police brutality?. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, secrecy and stigma are associated with infertility and adoption choice. This paper presents the findings of a phenomenological study which examined psychological (emotional) and socio-cultural experiences of seven Indian adoptive parents through the retrospective accounts of their pre-adoption phase. This phase analyzed the coping of childless couples with a diagnosis of primary/secondary infertility while undergoing various assisted reproductive techniques for several years and then opting for adoption. Amidst the deep-seated socio-cultural belief in pronatalism, a non-kinship domestic adoption process was followed as an alternative to biological parenthood. An interpretative phenomenological analysis highlighted the pertinent themes related to gender differences in grief resolution, surrogacy vs. adoption option, belief in theory of 'karma' (destiny), perception of body image and role of women in adoption initiation. The themes are further supported by the views of Indian adoption social workers and the medical professionals, to have the holistic framework of the psychological journey of pre-adoptive couples. These findings would be particularly relevant not only for researchers in South Asian/Southeast Asian countries where the area of infertility and adoption is under-researched but also for those studying the emotional voyage of childless couples to attain adoptive parenthood in other cultural contexts. The paper recommends the interventions required at the level of government, community, adoption agencies and therapeutic services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses topics within the issue including aspects of sexual and reproductive health, young people's sexual health and influence of political and social power on control over sexual and reproductive choices.

Advertisements are potentially outreaching and highly persuasive forms of social influence. Not only it is an important tool of marketing and brand recognition, but also a very strong cultivator of ideas, concepts, trends and stereotypes. It is therefore imperative, that the content broadcasted by media is positive, holistic and pragmatic. This paper focuses on analysing the role played by advertisements in setting appearance culture and the dynamic and evolving nature of modern advertisements against appearance stereotypes. The paper intends to make use of information derived from secondary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to recount the phenomenological experiences of an individual with cannabis dependence and psychosis. The transformations of the participant's "self" interwoven in a nexus of culture, religion, and ethnicity are captured scrupulously. Components like self-concept, body image, homosexual identity, and religious identity are examined to understand substance use and psychosis in a new light. Data were collected and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The main themes that emerged are "Self as a burden", "Conflictual experience of identity", and "Emergence of a new unifying self". The role of intra-psychic and socio-cultural factors in substance use disorders is emphasised to implicate better treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background-Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a relatively common problem that is widely seen across all age groups, especially in the modern age of technology. It is characterized by overall dissatisfaction with one's physical appearance and unrealistic expectations with one's own body. This problematic condition retards the development of proper self-esteem, adversely affects the quality of life and often triggers suicidal tendencies. Objectives-. 1. To find out the gender differences in body satisfaction through self-structured checklist. 2. To examine the self-esteem based on body perception in both genders separately through structured Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. Material And Methods-Comparative research design is used in this study. It was conducted in Navada, Jogiwala, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. non-probability consecutive sampling technique was used to collect data from 50 samples 25 male and 25 female. Data collection was accomplished by using Self-structured Binary checklist, and Rosenberg selfesteem scale. Result-The finding shows that the test p value was significant <0.001. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The current study compared Self-Figure drawings from Thai and Indian adolescents to assess the cross-cultural applicability of a child abuse assessment tool. The research aims to understand the extent to which distinctions or similarities arise in Self-Figure drawings among adolescents from two culturally similar yet distinct backgrounds characterized by differences in religious affiliations, socioeconomic contexts, and political environments. Methods: Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study utilized quantitative measures, including the Traumatic Events Checklist (TEQ-5) and Medical Somatic Dissociation Questionnaire (MSDQ), alongside a qualitative analysis of Self-Figure drawings. Ethical approval was obtained with waived informed consent, and a convenience sample of 386 adolescents aged 13–18 years (193 from Thailand [M = 14.8, SD = 1.73; 135 females (69.9%) and 58 males (30.1%)], and 193 from India [M = 15.2, SD = 1.64; 135 females (69.9%) and 58 males (30.1%)]), who reported experiencing child abuse, participated in the study by completing questionnaires and drawing themselves. Results: The analysis revealed that Thai adolescents had higher MSDQ scores, while Indian adolescents exhibited more prominent pictorial indicators. Indian participants reported experiencing a broader range of event types, whereas Thai adolescents predominantly depicted verbal or emotional abuse. Variations in pictorial indicators were found significant, except for hair, cheek or chin, omitted legs or feet, and omitted eyes. Conclusions: These findings contribute to the understanding of how cultural factors influence adolescents' self-representations through drawing. The differences in pictorial indicators highlight the nuanced variations within similar cultures, emphasizing the cultural specificity of self-expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Indian adolescents experience body dissatisfaction. However, empirically supported interventions are lacking, particularly in lower socio-economic regions of India. This paper describes the acceptability testing of a six-session teacher-led comics-based intervention, aiming to improve body image and related outcomes among adolescents in Indian Hindi medium schools. Methods: Thirty-five students (50% girls; M age, girls = 12.3 years; M age, boys = 13 years) and nine teachers (11% women) from Hindi medium schools in Rajasthan, India, completed a quantitative acceptability questionnaire regarding comics that target body dissatisfaction and associated risk factors. They also participated in online or telephone semi-structured interviews to share in-depth feedback, with teachers providing additional feedback on an accompanying teacher guide. The quantitative data were analysed descriptively, with the interviews analysed using qualitative codebook thematic analysis. Results: Quantitative analyses revealed that 73% of students felt the comics made them feel good about themselves. Qualitative analyses revealed four themes: (1) body dissatisfaction is a concern; (2) the comics are powerful; (3) increasing ease of understanding; (4) a teacher guide to aid delivery. Conclusion: This study demonstrates acceptability of a novel teacher-led comics-based body image intervention for adolescents in Indian Hindi medium schools from lower socio-economic settings. These findings are currently informing intervention optimizations, which will be evaluated in a randomized controlled effectiveness trial. If found to be effective, this intervention will be disseminated across eight Indian states by UNICEF. Trial registration. This trial has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov; a database of privately and publicly funded studies conducted around the world. Registration date: 2nd May 2020; Registration ID: (NCT04317755). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04317755?term=NCT04317755&draw=2&rank=1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body image is an important aspect of the complex creation of one's self-identity. The relationship between nutritional disorders, like obesity, and one's perception of her or his body is well documented. Obesity among medical students and health personnel is on the rise. Identifying and measuring the magnitude of distortion in body image self-perception among medical students is particularly relevant, as they are future healthcare providers. This paper assesses self-perceptions of body mass index (BMI) and physical activity among medical undergraduate students in an Indian medical school., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 161 sixth semester medical undergraduate students in a school in Delhi, India. A pretested questionnaire was used. Anthropometric measurements were taken. The participation rate was 93.6%., Results: Out of the total 161 students, there were 60.9% males and 39.1% females. Most participants were classified as normal (55.9%) according to BMI. The proportions of actual obese, overweight and underweight students were 4.4%, 30.4% and 9.3%, respectively. However, the proportion of students perceiving themselves as obese or overweight was only 37.3%. A significantly higher proportion of females (57.2%) than males (20.4%) perceived themselves as overweight (P < 0.001). The agreement between actual BMI and perceived weight was poor (kappa statistic: 0.33). Among actual overweight and obese students, only one-third were physically active., Conclusions: Students who were overweight or obese often failed to perceive themselves as such and, perhaps consequently, were not engaging in weight control practices. There is a need to develop health promotion interventions that help build healthy body habitus perceptions among this group of Indian medical students.

Objectives: The primary goal of rhinoplasty is patient satisfaction and improved quality of life. The present study was conducted to assess patient satisfaction with face and nose appearance, and quality of life after rhinoplasty. Methods: Patients presenting for rhinoplasty completed the FACE-Q survey. This is a new instrument that measures patient-reported outcomes in those undergoing aesthetic procedures. The FACE-Q scales include satisfaction with facial appearance overall, satisfaction with the nose, psychological well-being, psychosocial distress and social function. Results: Sixty-five patients completed the FACE-Q at pre-operative and at post-operative follow-up visits. Post-operative scores increased significantly in terms of: satisfaction with facial appearance (p < 0.0001, t = 15.639, degrees of freedom = 64); social function (p < 0.0001, t = 12.208, degrees of freedom = 64); psychosocial distress (p < 0.0001, t = 13.864, degrees of freedom = 64); psychological function (p < 0.0001, t = 12.681, degrees of freedom = 64); and satisfaction with nose (p < 0.0001, t = 16.421, degrees of freedom = 64). Most patients reported more than 79 per cent satisfaction with the post-operative outcome. Conclusion: The FACE-Q is an adequate instrument for determining successful aesthetic surgery based on patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to examine how women's body image, self-esteem, and life satisfaction are negatively impacted by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS appears to be associated with various health issues, including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and anovulatory infertility. Obesity, hirsutism, and acne are the most prevalent signs of PCOS. Individuals who are affected by these illnesses may experience psychological effects, which could lead to issues such as dysmorphic appearance concerns, global self-worth and overall contentment with life. Method: The sample size of this study includes 126 women suffering from PCOS in India under the age group of 18-35 years old, through snowball sampling. For this study, The Body Image Concern Inventory, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale were used to assess study participants. To analyse the data ttest, Descriptive Statistics, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used. This study's findings suggest that body image may influence life satisfaction but not necessarily self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the introduction of commercial video games in the 1970s, video game players have attracted the perhaps undeserving but negative stereotype of being unpopular and socially dysfunctional. However, with gamers increasing in numbers that now reach billions worldwide, the contents of gamer stereotypes may be in flux. The current study investigated the content of gamer stereotypes along the dimensions of physical/social attractiveness, warmth, competence, and morality as a function of genre violence level and gamer identity. Male and female participants (656 U.S. and 428 Indian) completed an online survey on the MTurk platform, rating social stereotypes of gamers in high‐violence and low‐violence genres on 22 adjective pairs and answering questions about gamer identity. Results revealed positive gamer stereotypes, especially in the low‐violence genres in both the United States and India. Low‐identifiers' stereotypes were less favourable in the high‐violence than in the low‐violence genres; this tendency diminished among high‐identifiers. This study suggests that, whereas once gamers were seen negatively, they are now seen remarkably positively. The implications of such positive views of those engaging in violent gaming are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dance movement therapy as a specific form of psychotherapy has its successful applicability in various psycho-social intervention programmes. However, the most common utilisation of this therapy has been observed in the clinical and rehabilitation fields. Its applicability in community mental health training, though not totally overlooked, but not empirically explored as well. The present work tried to bridge this research gap in relation to training and development in children. This study has focused on understanding dance movement therapy's role in training children with the concept of body privacy, at the same time developing healthy body image, and facilitating communication skills in them. Qualitative techniques were employed for data collection and analysis purpose. The findings were intriguing in terms of evaluating dance movement therapy as a training process to teach children body privacy concept, which can further find its application in school counselling and various other child training and intervention programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current scenario that we live in, the bitter truth is that we define beauty by what is on the outside and visible to the naked eye. The body image of a person plays such a huge role in one's life that we constantly strive to achieve the perfect body. This has led to various mental, behavioural and emotional issues. Unfortunately people have even lowered their self-esteem. Body image and self-esteem have a great impact on the quality of life and well-being of every individual. So the research aims to establish a relationship between body image and selfesteem among adolescents and young adults. The data was collected using Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Body Shape Questionnaire and Body Mass Index and it was analysed using correlation test. The results show that there exists correlation between body image and self-esteem adolescents and young adults. The study helped occupational therapists plan an intervention without stigma or judgment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder, involves an inability to produce sufficient hemoglobin and comprises two types: alpha thalassemia and beta thalassemia. Beta thalassemia's immediate treatment measures include frequent blood transmissions, stem cell and bone marrow transplants; all capable of altering an individual's idea of body image, self-concept, growth, and socialization, resulting in several emotional, psychological, and behavioral concerns. This study aimed at comprehending the dilemmas of body image and self-concept encountered by adolescents with thalassemia, particularly the resulting influence on physical development and socialization. Using the phenomenological interpretivism approach of qualitative research, data was collected using purposive-convenient sampling from 11 adolescents, both boys and girls ranging from ages 12 to 18, living with thalassemia and undergoing treatment. The research highlights adolescent concerns with body image, specifically with complexion, facial features, being either underweight or overweight, all amalgamating into a self-concept dilemma. Moreover, results point to the significant influence of experiences with family, peers, educational institutions, and hospital staff. Therapeutic attention, through regular screening and counselling, should be provided to adolescent thalassemia patients to address the psychological aspects of the chronic illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological well-being is a state of mind desirable for everyone, and body image is one among the many factors that can influence it. The objective of the study was to find out the relationship between body image and psychological well-being among male emerging adults. In this study, we selected 101 samples aged from 20 to 24, through convenient sampling method, from India. The data collected were statistically analyzed using SPSS. We used Shapiro - Wilk test to assess the normality of the data. To assess the correlation of appearance and psychological well-being we chose Pearson's product moment correlation test. To assess the body area satisfaction and Psychological Well-being Spearman's rho correlation test was used. The test findings of normality suggest that the relationship to be linear while not all variables are normally distributed, as assessed by Shapiro - wilk's test (p <0.05), and there were no outliers. There is no relationship between Appearance evaluation and psychological well-being among male emerging adults aged 20 to 24, r (99) = .136, p < 0.177, with appearance evaluation explaining 1.8% of the variation in psychological well-being. There was a statistically significant, moderate positive correlation between body area satisfaction and psychological well-being among male emerging adults aged 20 to 24, r (99) = 0.440, p > .001, with body area explaining 19% of the variation in psychological well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in India. In Ayurveda, any disease is considered to be caused by the imbalance of various Doshas (Vata, Pitta & Kapha) in human body. In order to diagnose this imbalance of doshas, there are several methods, out of which one is to observe visually the different features of the human body. Body type, skin type, hair type, eyes type, face type, etc possess different characteristics under the influence of various doshas. Hence the idea is to automate this process where we scan a body image using machine learning and deep learning algorithms and classify the different features into different doshas to finally conclude the dominant dosha as result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lower limb deformities include conditions such as leg length discrepancy, lower limb deficiency and associated angular and rotational deformities of the hips, knees, ankles and feet. Children with lower limb deformities often have physical limitations due to gait irregularities and pain. The differences in the appearance and function of their lower limbs can discourage participation in social, recreational and leisure activities, which may result in behavioural, emotional, psychological and social adjustment problems. The health-related quality of life (HRQL) of these children is often impacted due to the factors discussed above, as well as by the complex surgical procedures. Surgical treatment options for limb deformities in children vary from limb lengthening and reconstruction to amputation. The lack of evidence demonstrating superiority of either treatment options and their effect on HRQL limits the ability of healthcare providers to counsel families on the best evidence-based treatment option for them. This manuscript describes the international qualitative study which guided the development of a new patient-reported outcome measure (PROM). Individual semi-structured face-to-face interviews with children with lower limb deformities and their parents were conducted at five sites: Canada (2 sites), Ethiopia, India and the USA. Results: Seventy-nine interviews were conducted at five international sites. Five main themes emerged from the qualitative interviews and formed the basis of the conceptual framework. These themes were: 1) appearance, 2) physical health, 3) psychological health 4) school and 5) social health. Conclusions: Lower limb deformities have a substantial impact on the HRQL of children. The concepts of interest identified in our study were similar across children from all countries. The conceptual framework guided the development of outcome scales specific to these patients. The information about the impact of various treatment options on the HRQL of children with lower limb deformities, collected using this new PROM, could be used to inform parents and children about outcomes (physical, social, psychological) associated with specific treatment options. This information could supplement other objective outcome information (e.g., complication rates, how the leg will look, etc.) to help families to come to a more informed decision on a child's course of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the prevalence and association between disordered eating attitudes and body shape concerns in a sample of North Indian Kathak dancers. Method: Participants were 206 Kathak female dancers and 235 healthy controls, ages 18–45 years. Participants completed questionnaires assessing demographics, disordered eating attitudes, and body dissatisfaction. Pearson correlations assessed the association between the disordered eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction, and binary logistic regression identified the risk of having a possible eating disorder. Results: Kathak dancers reported significantly greater disordered eating attitudes compared to controls (12.1% vs. 5.9%, p =.023). Dancers endorsed greater dieting behaviors (M = 5.6 vs. 4.5, p =.031), and binge eating episodes (p <.001) relative to their counterparts. Body dissatisfaction was significantly positively correlated with disordered eating attitudes among the dancers (p <.001). Dancers with elevated body shape concerns were five times more likely to report disordered eating attitudes, relative to their peers (p <.001). Discussion: Disordered eating attitudes and body shape concerns are prevalent among North Indian Kathak dancers. Future research should aim to develop targeted prevention and intervention programs that focus on reducing these behaviors and promoting a positive body image to mitigate the risk of disordered eating among this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Breast cancer is a chronic disease in which cells in breast tissue multiply uncontrolled, typically resulting in a lump. India has a predominant young population, and women in the age group of 30–50 being diagnosed with breast cancer is on the rise. Their survival rates are also rising, owing to the treatment regimens which commonly include chemotherapy. Breast cancer survivors have the challenge of dealing with side effects of treatment such as cognitive impairment, along with alterations in the appearance – breast asymmetry, changes in skin texture and sensitivity, impacting self-esteem and body image. Aim: The present study aims to explore the cognitive functioning, self esteem, and body image of women with a history of breast cancer. Settings and Design: The present study is a cross-sectional, comparative study conducted on breast cancer survivors in an urban area of Kolkata, who were selected using purposive sampling method. Subjects and Methods: A total of sixty females – thirty breast cancer survivors and thirty normal counterparts, aged 30–50 years, were included. Neuropsychological tests, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, and Body Image Scale were administered. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive and inferential statics were computed using SPSS 20 software. Results: The results of the study show the presence of significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Thus, with a rise in the number of breast cancer survivors, it becomes imperative to understand the negative impact of the various treatments and provide timely interventions, thereby ensuring better quality of life and adequate psychological and emotional support for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress is a major cause of concern in medical practitioners. It is associated with anxiety, depression, sleeping disorders and job dissatisfaction. All these factors are potential reasons for errors during patient care. Physical activity, regardless of intensity, makes significant difference to improve physical as well as mental health and to reduce stress. Physical activities need a very good compliance, dedication and a routine schedule. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to analyse the effects of physical activity on the physical and mental health of medical practitioners using social media platforms such as Whatsapp and Facebook. Methods: Inspired from the WHO's global program 'LET'S BE ACTIVE', we have attempted to initiate the compulsive physical activity for medical practitioners under a program named "WALKU". We have used social media platforms such as whatsapp and Facebook to initiate the challenge of physical activity named as "WALKU" for health care professionals. The healthcare professionals considered for the case study are from north India. We have formed 15 groups with 4 participants in each group. The formation pf groups is based on similar work profiles and job responsibilities of healthcare professionals. They have been given challenges to stay active to cut down their level of inactivity optimally. The purpose behind this research study is to keep them active for the whole day to reduce their stress level and to improve sleep quality. We have made the use of Perceived Stress Score (PSS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to analyse the impact of physical activity on the health of medical practitioners. Results: The results of the study show that not only the health but the performance of the medical practitioners has also been improved due to inculcation of physical activity in their routine. The results with respect to ESS, PSS and PSQI scores have also compared before and after the activity programme named "W ALKU" to measure the impact of this activity on the sleep quality, stress levels and work performance. It is observed that the scores for ESS, PSS and PSQI have been improved for each healthcare professional after their participation in "W ALKU" activity based on 21 days programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive literature review revealed cultural beliefs, societal obligations, and gender roles within the South Asian community to be indirect contributors to the health of South Asian immigrants (SAIs). Health professionals need to increase their work with SAI communities to change less beneficial cultural elements such as misconceptions about health and exercise, and lack of communication when using alternative medicines. Community engaged efforts and continuing medical education are both needed to improve the health of the South Asian immigrant population in a culturally appropriate manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess proportion of adolescents perceiving their body image as normal and to study association between body shape, self-esteem and body mass index; each with body image perception.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among pre university college (PUC) students of Udupi taluk. A total of 550 students in the age group of 15-19y were randomly selected from 11 PUC's: four were taken from government and unaided strata respectively and three from aided. The PUC's were selected based on proportional allocation from a total of 48 PUC's. From each PUC a class was randomly chosen as a cluster; all students in the class were included. Body shape questionnaire and Rosenberg self-esteem scale were used to assess body shape concerns and self-esteem respectively. Height and weight was measured and body mass index was calculated. SPSS version 15 has been used for analysis. Results were tabulated using frequency distribution and proportions. Multinomial logistic regression was done.Results: About 38 % of the respondents perceived their body image as normal. Body shape [OR = 0.48,95 % CI: 0.305, 0.76], self-esteem [OR = 6.12,95 % CI: 2.76, 13.9] and body mass index [OR = 4.65,95 % CI: 2.13,10.12] were found to be independently associated with body image perception.Conclusions: Educational institutes are a major component of adolescent's lives; the identified factors for body image perception should be taken into consideration and appropriate educational efforts to be incorporated into the routine curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]