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HEALTH & WELLNESS JULY 31, 2026 | The Indian Eye 40

Simplicity is Key to Healthy Ageing, Treatment-resistant
Lilly Bets Big on

Suggest Celebrity Stories Depression with

$3.8-Billion

s conversations around healthy ageing gain mo- Acquisition
mentum, the lifestyles of some of Bollywood’s most
Aenduring stars are drawing renewed attention for li Lilly has announced its acqui-
demonstrating that consistency, balanced nutrition and sition of clinical-stage biotech-
regular physical activity can support long-term wellness. Enology company AtaiBeckley
At 83, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan continues to in a deal valued at up to $3.8 billion,
maintain a demanding work schedule, with recent reports marking the pharmaceutical giant’s
attributing his vitality to a disciplined daily routine cen- entry into the rapidly evolving field
tred on adequate rest, a balanced diet, regular exercise, of psychedelic-based mental health
mental engagement through writing, and routine health treatments. The transaction includes
check-ups. Fitness experts associated with the actor have an upfront cash payment of approxi-
also highlighted his commitment to never missing work- mately $2.8 billion, with an additional
outs, regardless of professional commitments, under- $1 billion tied to development and
scoring that consistency is more important than intensity. regulatory milestones. The acquisi-
The discussion has coincided with renewed interest tion is expected to close in the third
in healthy eating habits among veteran film personali- quarter of 2026, subject to sharehold-
ties. Actress Zeenat Aman, 74, recently shared details of er and regulatory approvals.
her lifelong vegetarian diet, revealing that she follows a The deal significantly strengthens
simple philosophy of eating fresh, consuming small por- Lilly’s neuroscience pipeline by add-
tions and relying on wholesome foods throughout the ing BPL-003, an investigational intra-
day. Her dietary approach reflects a growing emphasis nasal synthetic 5-MeO-DMT therapy
on mindful eating rather than restrictive dieting as a sus- designed to treat treatment-resistant
tainable path to healthy ageing. depression (TRD). The drug has al-
Health experts have long maintained that regu- ready received the U.S. Food and Drug
lar physical activity, nutritious meals, sufficient sleep Administration’s Breakthrough Ther-
and preventive healthcare remain the cornerstones of apy Designation after demonstrating
healthy ageing. While celebrity routines may differ in rapid and durable improvements in
scale and access to professional guidance, the underly- tainable daily routines that support physical, mental and depressive symptoms during Phase
ing principles align closely with established public health emotional well-being over time. 2b clinical trials. Another promising
recommendations. As India’s ageing population continues to grow, the candidate, VLS-01, is also being de-
The renewed focus on these habits comes amid experiences of public figures such as Bachchan and Aman veloped for mental health disorders.
rising awareness about lifestyle-related diseases and are adding to broader conversations encouraging disci- The acquisition underscores
the importance of preventive healthcare among older plined living, balanced nutrition and active lifestyles as growing confidence in psychedel-
adults. Medical professionals note that healthy ageing practical measures for maintaining health and indepen- ic-assisted therapies as convention-
is less about quick fixes and more about adopting sus- dence in later years. al antidepressants continue to fall
short for millions of patients with
FSSAI Cracks Down on Misleading Food Labels severe depression. Unlike traditional
medicines that primarily target neu-
rotransmitters, AtaiBeckley’s thera-
ndia’s food regulator has intensi- marketed as healthy alternatives. claims. They recommend checking pies aim to restore neural connectiv-
fied its action against misleading Experts say attractive packaging and the order of ingredients, watching ity by promoting synaptic plasticity,
Ihealth claims on packaged food front-of-pack claims often mask high for hidden sugars under different offering a potentially transformative
products, prompting manufacturers levels of sugar, salt or unhealthy fats, names, comparing protein and fibre treatment approach.
to revise labels and marketing prac- making it difficult for consumers content, and limiting foods with long For Lilly, the purchase reflects
tices while encouraging consumers to to distinguish genuinely nutritious ingredient lists or multiple additives. a broader strategy of expanding be-
make more informed food choices. products from those relying on mar- Claims such as “multigrain” or “low- yond its blockbuster diabetes and
The Food Safety and Standards keting tactics. fat” should also be verified against obesity medicines into high-growth
Authority of India (FSSAI) has is- Following FSSAI’s notices, sev- the complete nutritional profile. therapeutic areas. Analysts believe
sued notices to several food brands eral food companies have report- Public health experts have wel- the company is leveraging strong rev-
over “health-washing”—the practice edly modified product packaging, comed the regulator’s action, stating enues to build a diversified pipeline
of portraying products as healthier removed or revised promotional that clearer food labelling can play a capable of addressing unmet medical
than they actually are through claims claims, and strengthened compliance crucial role in addressing rising rates needs across neuroscience.
such as “natural,” “multigrain,” with labelling regulations. The move of obesity, diabetes and other life- With major drugmakers now in-
“high-protein,” or “low-fat.” The reinforces the regulator’s broader ef- style-related diseases. They believe vesting heavily in innovative mental
regulator’s latest enforcement drive forts to improve transparency in In- stricter enforcement, coupled with health treatments and regulators show-
aims to ensure that food labels accu- dia’s packaged food sector and pro- greater consumer awareness, will ing greater openness to novel thera-
rately reflect nutritional content and mote informed purchasing decisions. encourage manufacturers to adopt pies, the acquisition could accelerate
do not mislead consumers. Nutrition experts advise con- more transparent labelling practices research and development in a field
The crackdown follows growing sumers to read ingredient lists and and help shoppers make healthier long considered experimental while
concerns over the increasing con- nutrition information panels instead dietary choices based on facts rather offering new hope to patients with dif-
sumption of ultra-processed foods of relying solely on front-of-pack than marketing claims. ficult-to-treat psychiatric conditions.

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