Lifestyle diseases and NCDs

WHO plans to update the recommendations as new evidence emerges and will work with partners in 2026 to ensure that those with the most urgent needs are prioritised.

There is growing scientific support for including metabolic health in the cost-benefit calculations of air-quality interventions. A polluted city is not just a respiratory hazard – it may also be silently fuelling obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases at scale.

The new satellite-based assessment provides a stark, data-backed snapshot of air pollution across India – one that transcends city boundaries and illuminates the widespread nature of PM2.5 exposure.

The success of BHAP will depend on bridging the funding gap and galvanizing political buy-in.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has ordered a time-bound scientific study of photocatalytic “smog-eating” coatings, including titanium dioxide-based surfaces, hoping they may offer a drawbridge between policy and technological innovation to reduce harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and volatile hydrocarbons.

The launch, done together with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF in Bhutan,  coincides with UNICEF’s new global child nutrition report, which finds that overweight and obesity are rising fast among children, including in Bhutan.

According to the study, India’s recent trajectory on non-communicable disease mortality marks a departure from the broader global pattern.

The report underscores the importance of regular, population-based health surveys to track progress and ensure accountability.