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Gaming related experiences and addictive behaviours are emerging causes of adverse psycho-social health such as depression, anxiety, in adolescents and young adults around the world. Nonetheless, there remains a dearth of information relating to adolescents and young adults in India, a country which has millions of gamers.

Obesity and hypertension have become a global epidemic among the women, especially as they experience additional stressful events compared to men. The epidemiology of these two metabolic disorders is regulated by various biological, socio-economic, reproductive and lifestyle factors related to women. However, inconsistency in the nature and magnitude of the effects of these traits indicates exploring the areas where little emphasis has been given. In this context, the present study attempted to determine the effect of socio-economic and reproductive traits on hypertension and abdominal adiposity among women living in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India. Data on socio-demographic and reproductive traits were collected from 319 adult women from both rural and urban sectors of Habra block I. Anthropometric measurements and Blood pressure levels were measured following standard protocols. Results highlighted that the prevalence of obese individuals and hypertensive individuals were 73.4 and 50.5 per cent respectively. Women with low income (OR=0.51) were at lower risk and post-menopausal women (OR=1.71) were at higher risk of developing abdominal adiposity. The risk of developing hypertension increased with higher educational attainment (OR=2.43). Post-menopausal women (OR=0.46) and shifting workers (OR=0.40) were at lower risk of developing hypertension. The risk also decreased with increased age (OR=0.96). Present study revealed that menopause is a significant event to predict abdominal adiposity and hypertension among Bengali-speaking Hindu women.

Background: In India, population diversity plays a major role to create variation in socio-demographic, cultural and lifestyle factors which contribute to unique demographic scenario among populations. However, not much emphasis has been given to investigate the relationship of socio-demographic factors with fertility and mortality scenario among indigenous groups of northern West Bengal. Objectives: Study attempted to see the effect of socio-demographic factors on women’s fertility and under-five mortality among the Oraons. Materials and Method: Data on socio-demographic characteristics, fertility and mortality were collected from 445 ever-married women. Descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression and Cox proportion hazard analysis were performed. Results: Total fertility rate in the study group was 3.19 live births per woman and under-five mortality rate was 9.77 death per 100 live births. Educational status of women (p=0.002), household size (p<0.001), age (p=0.001) and marital age of women (p=0.020) significantly determined women’s fertility. Educational status of women (p=0.034), women’s practice of defecation (p=0.014), Marital age of women (p=0.046) and birth order of the child (p=0.031) significantly determined under-five mortality. Conclusion: Study highlighted that women married before 18 years and with no institutional education were more likely to experience high fertility and high under-five mortality. Absence of pit latrine in household and child’s birth order also significantly determined under-five mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out in Kolkata to find out the prevalence of hypertension among bus drivers and if any concomitant factor(s) is/are responsible for it. Bus drivers, a vulnerable occupational group, are exposed to adverse workplace environmental conditions which play major role in developing hypertension among them. This study indicates that a prolonged exposure to smoking, alcohol, street food intake and overtime working may augment the chance of developing hypertension. Prevalence of pre-hypertension is a matter of concern for the safety of bus drivers as well as of community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the paper has been to explore the association of media exposure with perception of body image and eating behavior among a group of adolescent boys. A cross sectional study was conducted among 102 adolescent boys belonging to the Bengali-speaking Hindu ethnic group, who were between the ages of 14 and 19 years, living in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, body image perception and attitude, media exposures and eating behavior were collected using standard pretested questionnaires. It was observed that around half of the participants expressed dissatisfaction with a desire to have a healthy body shape. Although participants, who generally spent more than one hour a day on watching television or browsing internet or reading magazine articles, were more dissatisfied with their body image than the others; yet no significant association was found between any of the media and satisfaction level of their body image. Results further revealed that majority of the participants have normal eating behavior and only 10% of the participants, who were dissatisfied with their body image, showed disordered eating behavior. Only significant association was found between consumption of chocolates and their satisfaction level of own body image. Our qualitative data showed that participants were not much concerned with their 'body image' and 'body weight", but they did fantasize about the body structure of their idols (be them the actors, athletes or social leaders) and wanted to be like them. It can be safely assumed that the adolescent boys have dissatisfaction with their body image perhaps in their subconscious mind. Media would play a significant role in building up their body image and consequently their eating behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]