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HEALTH & WELLNESS OCTOBER 23, 2026 | The Indian Eye 54

India joins global wellness Linked to Rising
Climate Change

movement, makes it to top 10 Skin Diseases:

Global Study

ndia has emerged among the top limate change is increasingly
10 countries participating in the affecting skin health world-
I10th edition of the World Well- Cwide, with 42.6% of countries
ness Weekend, a global initiative that reporting changes in the prevalence
brought communities together across or severity of skin diseases linked to
185 countries from September 18 to climate-related factors, according to
20 for activities focused on physical, a new international study covering
mental and social well-being. 136 countries.
The annual event featured well- The findings highlight the dis-
ness activities ranging from yoga and proportionate impact on lower-in-
fitness sessions to community-based come nations, where healthcare re-
initiatives, highlighting the growing sources and disease surveillance may
global emphasis on healthier life- be limited.
styles and collective well-being. In- The study, conducted under the
dia’s inclusion in the top 10 places it Global Access to Skin Health Ob-
alongside countries including Mexico, servatory initiative, was presented
Spain, Vietnam, the United States, at the European Academy of Der-
the Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, matology and Venereology (EADV)
Indonesia and Argentina. us of its city centre. Punta Cana in the venues and 401 activities, while Spain Congress 2026 in Vienna on Sep-
Mexico led the country rankings, Dominican Republic followed with had 234 venues and 500 activities. Ja- tember 30.
recording 754 activities across 170 182 activities, while Spain’s Marbella pan also featured prominently with The initiative is a collaboration
venues, followed by Spain with 500 ranked third with 107 activities. 210 venues. between the International League
activities and Vietnam with 469. The The 10th anniversary edition also Founded a decade ago by Jean- of Dermatological Societies and
United States recorded 424 activities, saw landmarks being used to highlight Guy De Gabriac, the World Wellness L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty.
while the Dominican Republic re- the global initiative. Jakarta’s National Weekend aims to encourage accessi- The findings revealed that
ported 421. Indonesia ranked ninth Monument, Monas, was illuminated ble wellness activities and community 55.6% of low-income countries
with 205 activities across 86 venues. in blue on September 18 to symbolise participation. The 2026 edition un- and 52.5% of lower-middle-income
Among cities, Cancún in Mexico the “spirit of wellness” and the collec- derscored how local initiatives across countries reported climate-related
emerged as the busiest wellness desti- tive commitment to healthier lives. countries are increasingly becoming changes in skin diseases. The cor-
nation, recording 307 activities across Italy recorded the highest num- part of a broader global wellness responding figures were 43.8% for
58 venues within a 25-kilometre radi- ber of participating venues, with 272 movement. upper-middle-income countries and
28.3% for high-income countries.
Regional differences were also
Late-Night Snacking Linked to Higher Risk significant. The Western Pacific re-
ported the highest proportion of
of Liver Disease: Study countries observing climate-related
changes, at 64.7%, followed by the
Eastern Mediterranean and South-
East Asia, both at 60%. In Europe,
egular late-night eating may The researchers examined data that regulates sleep, metabolism and the figure stood at 16.1%.
be associated with a higher from the Nurses’ Health Study, other biological functions. The liver’s Among the 58 countries report-
Rrisk of liver disease, includ- Nurses’ Health Study II and Health ability to process nutrients may be ing climate-associated effects on skin
ing fatty liver disease and cirrhosis, Professionals Follow-up Study to less efficient when food is consumed conditions, 81% observed increases
according to a new study led by re- identify associations between eat- during the biological night, when the in heat rashes, while 75.9% reported
searchers at Oregon Health & Sci- ing patterns and liver conditions. body is preparing for rest. changes in inflammatory skin diseases.
ence University (OHSU), highlight- The findings suggest that the timing The study focused on metabolic Dr Esther Freeman, a study
ing the potential health implications of food intake may be an important dysfunction-associated steatotic liver author, said the findings indicated
of meal timing. factor in metabolic health, alongside disease (MASLD), a condition char- that climate change was already as-
Published in the journal Clinical diet quality and other lifestyle habits. acterised by fat accumulation in the sociated with adverse effects on skin
Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lead researcher Dr Robert Wi- liver, and cirrhosis, a more advanced health, with lower-income settings
the study analysed dietary and life- lechansky, a hepatologist specialising form of liver damage. bearing a greater burden.
style data from nearly 200,000 par- in liver transplantation at OHSU, However, the researchers cau- Rising temperatures and humid-
ticipants across three large US-based said the study was among the first tioned that the findings establish ity can increase sweating and skin ir-
studies. Researchers found that peo- long-term analyses to examine the an association rather than a direct ritation, while heat and air pollution
ple who reported eating after dinner relationship between late-night eat- cause-and-effect relationship. The may trigger or worsen inflammation.
or after bedtime had a 20% to 30% ing and fatty liver disease. analysis relied on self-reported di- Changing temperatures and rainfall
higher risk of liver disease compared Researchers believe the associ- etary and lifestyle information, lim- patterns can also alter the habitats
with those who did not report the ation could be linked to the body’s iting the conclusions that can be of mosquitoes, ticks and other dis-
habit. circadian rhythm, the internal clock drawn. ease-carrying organisms.

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