Pharmapedia

Editorial, Apr 2015 issue

“ Why this particular segment of FMCG or OTC will surge, can be understood from the fact that people want immediate relief from pain, come what may, and this lead to makeover of traditional wide mouth bottle into ointment or spray type of container or dosage form

There are three topics that can cause derision and division at any coffee or dinner table across the Western world: religion, politics, and soy. The humble soybean does have a noble and ingrained place in our world today and, whether you are pro or no, it’s almost unavoidable. Soy is everywhere - from your soy milks and tofus to the more discreet soy lecithin used to prevent compounds from separating during the cooking process.

Introduction
At least one article is seen in newspaper on obesity on daily basis; no other disease is searched (and articles are read on) as frequently as obesity. Such is the menace of obesity that even fast food giant McDonald's has put an advice in few of its offices “not to eat too much fast-food”. Obesity is defined as BMI (body mass index) 30kg\m2 or more. A person with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 are considered over weight but not obese. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in humans. It is also defined as a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg\m2). As per world health organization (WHO), BMI greater than or equal to 25 is overweight and BMI greater than or equal to 30 is obese. Obesity is a foremost health problem not only in developed nations but also in developing countries. It increases the risk of other diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, fatty liver and some forms of cancer1.

Obesity is now so common in various geographies that it is beginning to replace conditions arising from malnutrition and infectious diseases as the most significant contributor to ill health. Obesity is measured using BMI and further evaluated in terms of fat distribution via the waist–hip ratio and total cardiovascular risk factors2. BMI is closely related to both percentage body fat and total body fat3. The global epidemic of obesity results from an amalgamation of such factors as genetic susceptibility, increased availability of high-energy foods and diminished need of physical activity in prevailing situation in modern society. Obesity is no more a cosmetic issue affecting certain individuals, but a pandemic threatening global well being because it exacerbates a large number of health-related problems, both independently and in association with other ailments^4,5.