June 15, 2026
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern that Kashmiris are being viewed with suspicion across India due to the actions of a few. He stated that stripping the region of its special status and statehood has not ended bloodshed, questioning those responsible for security about the current situation. SRINAGAR: All Kashmiris were being looked at with suspicion in other parts of India because of the actions of a few, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said, adding that even he hesitated going out in Delhi in a J&K registered vehicle.Hitting out at the Centre and the LG administration, he said stripping J&K of its special status and statehood had not ended bloodshed, and those responsible for the UT’s security should answer for the current situation.The chief minister, while addressing a gathering in Kulgam, said the situation had deteriorated to the point that Kashmiri parents hesitated to send their children to other states for studies or jobs. “When fingers of suspicion are pointed at us from all sides, when actions of a few are used to defame all of us, when everyone is dragged into it because of the involvement of a few, it is difficult for us to leave J&K,” he said.Some of the Delhi car blast perpetrators and other suspects arrested in the white-collar terror module recently busted are from Kashmir.“Look at what happened in Delhi. A few were responsible but the impression is being created that all of us are to blame for it and all of us are involved in it. Today, driving a J&K-registered vehicle in Delhi is treated almost like a crime. When I’m not surrounded by security personnel, I wonder whether I should even drive my J&K-registered car or not. I fear being stopped and questioned,” he said.The CM was in Kulgam to visit the families of some of the victims of Friday’s blast inside Nowgam police station in Srinagar that killed a Special Investigation Agency officer, three FSL personnel, two revenue officials and a tailor associated with the station, and wounded 30 others.It was the Nowgam police station that probed the Jaish-e-Mohammad posters that appeared in Bonpora area on Oct 19, which led to the uncovering of the interstate terror module involving doctors and others.“What should we say about the situation today? If a bomb is not exploding in Delhi, it’s going off here,” the CM said. “Innocent people are losing their lives. Yesterday, I went to five homes to offer condolences and today I am visiting two more. We want this vicious cycle of violence to stop somewhere.”“In the past 30-35 years, we have witnessed blood and gore on a massive scale in the Valley. We were told it will end and that after 2019, the situation has improved. But it hasn’t, and why it hasn’t is a question for those responsible for our security. The responsibility of security does not lie with us,” Omar said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar To Take CM Oath For Record 10th Time At Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, PM Modi To AttendBangladesh To Seek Interpol’s Help To Extradite Sheikh Hasina From India’Fatwa Issued…’: BJP Jabs ‘Indira Nazi Congress’ For Criticising Tharoor Over Modi Speech PraiseRussia Showcases Missile-Only Pantsir SMD-E Air Defence System At Dubai Airshow 2025’We Hit India…’: Pakistani Leader’s Explosive Admission Unmasks Islamabad’s Terror Links Again’Can’t Rule Out All-Out War’: Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif Rattled Over Army Chief’s Sindoor 2.0 WarningSydney Horror Crash Kills 8-Month Pregnant Indian After Teen BMW Driver Slams Into Family WalkIndia Expands Its Diplomatic Presence In Russia As Jaishankar Highlights Strategic New ConsulatesTaliban Trade Minister Lands in Delhi Amid Major Afghan Shift Toward India After Pakistan ConflictChina’s Propaganda Strike On India Exposed, US Report Details Fake Jet Debris And J-35 Sales Tactics123Photostories5 national parks to visit in South America for adventure loversAre you eating chia seeds the wrong way? Harvard doctor reveals the 3 healthiest ways to consume them3 Ayurveda-approved drinks to reduce fatty liver naturally10 regional egg dishes from different parts of India5 beautiful white animals that look like furry snowballs8 things life teaches us the hard wayFrom Rajkummar Rao-Patralekhaa to Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh: Bollywood’s adorable baby girl squadFrom protection to independence: Smriti Irani’s modern parenting mantraSalman Khan to Shanaya Kapoor: 5 viral looks of the day setting today’s style mood8 modern-sounding baby names that begin with letter ‘K’123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodaySheikh Hasina VerdictBihar Government FormationGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingBrittany LucicAlex Ovechkin WifePaolo BancheroStephen CurryPatrick BeverleyLeBron JamesStephen A SmithCade CunninghamDraymond GreenSophie Cunningham

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern that Kashmiris are being viewed with suspicion across India due to the actions of a few. He stated that stripping the region of its special status and statehood has not ended bloodshed, questioning those responsible for security about the current situation. SRINAGAR: All Kashmiris were being looked at with suspicion in other parts of India because of the actions of a few, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said, adding that even he hesitated going out in Delhi in a J&K registered vehicle.Hitting out at the Centre and the LG administration, he said stripping J&K of its special status and statehood had not ended bloodshed, and those responsible for the UT’s security should answer for the current situation.The chief minister, while addressing a gathering in Kulgam, said the situation had deteriorated to the point that Kashmiri parents hesitated to send their children to other states for studies or jobs. “When fingers of suspicion are pointed at us from all sides, when actions of a few are used to defame all of us, when everyone is dragged into it because of the involvement of a few, it is difficult for us to leave J&K,” he said.Some of the Delhi car blast perpetrators and other suspects arrested in the white-collar terror module recently busted are from Kashmir.“Look at what happened in Delhi. A few were responsible but the impression is being created that all of us are to blame for it and all of us are involved in it. Today, driving a J&K-registered vehicle in Delhi is treated almost like a crime. When I’m not surrounded by security personnel, I wonder whether I should even drive my J&K-registered car or not. I fear being stopped and questioned,” he said.The CM was in Kulgam to visit the families of some of the victims of Friday’s blast inside Nowgam police station in Srinagar that killed a Special Investigation Agency officer, three FSL personnel, two revenue officials and a tailor associated with the station, and wounded 30 others.It was the Nowgam police station that probed the Jaish-e-Mohammad posters that appeared in Bonpora area on Oct 19, which led to the uncovering of the interstate terror module involving doctors and others.“What should we say about the situation today? If a bomb is not exploding in Delhi, it’s going off here,” the CM said. “Innocent people are losing their lives. Yesterday, I went to five homes to offer condolences and today I am visiting two more. We want this vicious cycle of violence to stop somewhere.”“In the past 30-35 years, we have witnessed blood and gore on a massive scale in the Valley. We were told it will end and that after 2019, the situation has improved. But it hasn’t, and why it hasn’t is a question for those responsible for our security. The responsibility of security does not lie with us,” Omar said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar To Take CM Oath For Record 10th Time At Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, PM Modi To AttendBangladesh To Seek Interpol’s Help To Extradite Sheikh Hasina From India’Fatwa Issued…’: BJP Jabs ‘Indira Nazi Congress’ For Criticising Tharoor Over Modi Speech PraiseRussia Showcases Missile-Only Pantsir SMD-E Air Defence System At Dubai Airshow 2025’We Hit India…’: Pakistani Leader’s Explosive Admission Unmasks Islamabad’s Terror Links Again’Can’t Rule Out All-Out War’: Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif Rattled Over Army Chief’s Sindoor 2.0 WarningSydney Horror Crash Kills 8-Month Pregnant Indian After Teen BMW Driver Slams Into Family WalkIndia Expands Its Diplomatic Presence In Russia As Jaishankar Highlights Strategic New ConsulatesTaliban Trade Minister Lands in Delhi Amid Major Afghan Shift Toward India After Pakistan ConflictChina’s Propaganda Strike On India Exposed, US Report Details Fake Jet Debris And J-35 Sales Tactics123Photostories5 national parks to visit in South America for adventure loversAre you eating chia seeds the wrong way? Harvard doctor reveals the 3 healthiest ways to consume them3 Ayurveda-approved drinks to reduce fatty liver naturally10 regional egg dishes from different parts of India5 beautiful white animals that look like furry snowballs8 things life teaches us the hard wayFrom Rajkummar Rao-Patralekhaa to Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh: Bollywood’s adorable baby girl squadFrom protection to independence: Smriti Irani’s modern parenting mantraSalman Khan to Shanaya Kapoor: 5 viral looks of the day setting today’s style mood8 modern-sounding baby names that begin with letter ‘K’123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodaySheikh Hasina VerdictBihar Government FormationGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingBrittany LucicAlex Ovechkin WifePaolo BancheroStephen CurryPatrick BeverleyLeBron JamesStephen A SmithCade CunninghamDraymond GreenSophie Cunningham

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

SRINAGAR: All Kashmiris were being looked at with suspicion in other parts of India because of the actions of a few, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said, adding that even he hesitated going out in Delhi in a J&K registered vehicle.Hitting out at the Centre and the LG administration, he said…

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Travel inspiration of the day: When Kalpana Chawla began her first space mission on November 19 and created history |

Travel inspiration of the day: When Kalpana Chawla began her first space mission on November 19 and created history |

Vamsikrishna05 mins mins

November 19, 1997, is one such day, when Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-American astronaut and aerospace engineer, embarked on her first space mission. It was on this day, she carved her name into history. It wasn’t just a launch; it was a story of determination meeting destiny, a journey that began in India and reached beyond…

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Jeffrey Epstein had an ‘extremely deformed p***s’, claims victim: ‘Some people have described it as…’

Jeffrey Epstein had an ‘extremely deformed p***s’, claims victim: ‘Some people have described it as…’

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

A woman who says she was abused by Jeffrey Epstein has claimed that the late pedophile had a severely deformed and unusually small p***s, describing it as “the shape of a lemon”. 46-year-old Rina Oh made the claim in a recent Substack interview with writer Tina Brown, adding new detail to long-standing rumours surrounding Epstein’s…

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The Supreme Court questioned the validity of Muslim men authorizing lawyers to issue triple talaq notices, stating it’s not a valid divorce without the husband’s signature. The bench emphasized that such practices cannot harm Muslim women’s dignity and will not permit unauthorized divorce notifications. NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the validity of the practice among Muslim men to authorise a lawyer to send notices to his wife for divorce through three talaqs, each notified after a month’s gap, and said this would not be regarded as a valid annulment of marriage as the notices do not bear the man’s signature.Appearing for a TV journalist petitioner questioning the Muslim men’s unilateral right to divorce through triple talaq under Talaq-e-Hasan process, senior advocate Rizwan Ahmed told a bench of CJI-designate Surya Kant and Justices U Bhuyan and N K Singh that her advocate husband sent talaq notices through a lawyer, finalised divorce and remarried.“When a talaqnama does not bear the husband’s signature, it is not a valid divorce document. If, based on this document, the woman remarries, the man can later accuse her of polyandry by claiming he has not validly divorced the woman. Moreover, whenever she wants to remarry, the other man can decline citing the invalidity of the divorce document,” Ahmed said.When senior advocate M R Shamshad attempted to justify the advocate husband’s action terming it as a custom prevalent among Muslims, Justice Kant-led bench asked, “How can this be a valid practice? The notices for talaq and talaqnama must have the signature of the husband. How can a third party give the woman notice on behalf of her husband?”“Is this legal? How are such innovations made to give talaq? How is the community promoting such practices? We will not permit such processes to harm the dignity of the Muslim women. No one can give authorisation to a lawyer or any other person to give talaq notice to a woman on his behalf. If tomorrow the husband says he has not authorised the lawyer, what will happen to the woman? We have seen in many cases where the clients have disowned lawyers’ action,” the bench said.Deprecating the actions of the advocate-husband, the bench asked him to follow the Sharia law procedures and give a valid divorce to the woman, Benazeer Heena, who was present in court and narrated how she had been made to run from pillar to post after being virtually abandoned by her husband after paying a total alimony of Rs 17,000. SC asked her to file an application seeking appropriate directions for her and child’s welfare and education. “We will do the needful,” it assured.Turning to Shamshad, Justice Kant said, “We salute her for gathering courage to move the court challenging the unilateral Talaq-e-Hasan process of divorce. Think of the condition of millions of Muslim women, illiterate and living in rural areas. What would be their plight? The relief cannot be confined to those women who have the wherewithal to move the SC. We will decide the validity of Talaq-e-Hasan after a detailed hearing.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar To Take CM Oath For Record 10th Time At Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, PM Modi To AttendBangladesh To Seek Interpol’s Help To Extradite Sheikh Hasina From India’Fatwa Issued…’: BJP Jabs ‘Indira Nazi Congress’ For Criticising Tharoor Over Modi Speech PraiseRussia Showcases Missile-Only Pantsir SMD-E Air Defence System At Dubai Airshow 2025’We Hit India…’: Pakistani Leader’s Explosive Admission Unmasks Islamabad’s Terror Links Again’Can’t Rule Out All-Out War’: Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif Rattled Over Army Chief’s Sindoor 2.0 WarningSydney Horror Crash Kills 8-Month Pregnant Indian After Teen BMW Driver Slams Into Family WalkIndia Expands Its Diplomatic Presence In Russia As Jaishankar Highlights Strategic New ConsulatesTaliban Trade Minister Lands in Delhi Amid Major Afghan Shift Toward India After Pakistan ConflictChina’s Propaganda Strike On India Exposed, US Report Details Fake Jet Debris And J-35 Sales Tactics123PhotostoriesKajol’s films that open a quiet doorway back to nineties nostalgia5 national parks to visit in South America for adventure loversAre you eating chia seeds the wrong way? Harvard doctor reveals the 3 healthiest ways to consume them3 Ayurveda-approved drinks to reduce fatty liver naturally10 regional egg dishes from different parts of India5 beautiful white animals that look like furry snowballs8 things life teaches us the hard wayFrom Rajkummar Rao-Patralekhaa to Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh: Bollywood’s adorable baby girl squadFrom protection to independence: Smriti Irani’s modern parenting mantraSalman Khan to Shanaya Kapoor: 5 viral looks of the day setting today’s style mood123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodaySheikh Hasina VerdictBihar Government FormationGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingTrevon DiggsTom BradyJonathan OwensDraymond GreenPatrick Kane Net Worth 2025Nadia ComaneciAsmongoldFortnite Friday Streamer Awards 2025Stefon DiggsBill Belichick

The Supreme Court questioned the validity of Muslim men authorizing lawyers to issue triple talaq notices, stating it’s not a valid divorce without the husband’s signature. The bench emphasized that such practices cannot harm Muslim women’s dignity and will not permit unauthorized divorce notifications. NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the validity of the practice among Muslim men to authorise a lawyer to send notices to his wife for divorce through three talaqs, each notified after a month’s gap, and said this would not be regarded as a valid annulment of marriage as the notices do not bear the man’s signature.Appearing for a TV journalist petitioner questioning the Muslim men’s unilateral right to divorce through triple talaq under Talaq-e-Hasan process, senior advocate Rizwan Ahmed told a bench of CJI-designate Surya Kant and Justices U Bhuyan and N K Singh that her advocate husband sent talaq notices through a lawyer, finalised divorce and remarried.“When a talaqnama does not bear the husband’s signature, it is not a valid divorce document. If, based on this document, the woman remarries, the man can later accuse her of polyandry by claiming he has not validly divorced the woman. Moreover, whenever she wants to remarry, the other man can decline citing the invalidity of the divorce document,” Ahmed said.When senior advocate M R Shamshad attempted to justify the advocate husband’s action terming it as a custom prevalent among Muslims, Justice Kant-led bench asked, “How can this be a valid practice? The notices for talaq and talaqnama must have the signature of the husband. How can a third party give the woman notice on behalf of her husband?”“Is this legal? How are such innovations made to give talaq? How is the community promoting such practices? We will not permit such processes to harm the dignity of the Muslim women. No one can give authorisation to a lawyer or any other person to give talaq notice to a woman on his behalf. If tomorrow the husband says he has not authorised the lawyer, what will happen to the woman? We have seen in many cases where the clients have disowned lawyers’ action,” the bench said.Deprecating the actions of the advocate-husband, the bench asked him to follow the Sharia law procedures and give a valid divorce to the woman, Benazeer Heena, who was present in court and narrated how she had been made to run from pillar to post after being virtually abandoned by her husband after paying a total alimony of Rs 17,000. SC asked her to file an application seeking appropriate directions for her and child’s welfare and education. “We will do the needful,” it assured.Turning to Shamshad, Justice Kant said, “We salute her for gathering courage to move the court challenging the unilateral Talaq-e-Hasan process of divorce. Think of the condition of millions of Muslim women, illiterate and living in rural areas. What would be their plight? The relief cannot be confined to those women who have the wherewithal to move the SC. We will decide the validity of Talaq-e-Hasan after a detailed hearing.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar To Take CM Oath For Record 10th Time At Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, PM Modi To AttendBangladesh To Seek Interpol’s Help To Extradite Sheikh Hasina From India’Fatwa Issued…’: BJP Jabs ‘Indira Nazi Congress’ For Criticising Tharoor Over Modi Speech PraiseRussia Showcases Missile-Only Pantsir SMD-E Air Defence System At Dubai Airshow 2025’We Hit India…’: Pakistani Leader’s Explosive Admission Unmasks Islamabad’s Terror Links Again’Can’t Rule Out All-Out War’: Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif Rattled Over Army Chief’s Sindoor 2.0 WarningSydney Horror Crash Kills 8-Month Pregnant Indian After Teen BMW Driver Slams Into Family WalkIndia Expands Its Diplomatic Presence In Russia As Jaishankar Highlights Strategic New ConsulatesTaliban Trade Minister Lands in Delhi Amid Major Afghan Shift Toward India After Pakistan ConflictChina’s Propaganda Strike On India Exposed, US Report Details Fake Jet Debris And J-35 Sales Tactics123PhotostoriesKajol’s films that open a quiet doorway back to nineties nostalgia5 national parks to visit in South America for adventure loversAre you eating chia seeds the wrong way? Harvard doctor reveals the 3 healthiest ways to consume them3 Ayurveda-approved drinks to reduce fatty liver naturally10 regional egg dishes from different parts of India5 beautiful white animals that look like furry snowballs8 things life teaches us the hard wayFrom Rajkummar Rao-Patralekhaa to Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh: Bollywood’s adorable baby girl squadFrom protection to independence: Smriti Irani’s modern parenting mantraSalman Khan to Shanaya Kapoor: 5 viral looks of the day setting today’s style mood123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodaySheikh Hasina VerdictBihar Government FormationGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingTrevon DiggsTom BradyJonathan OwensDraymond GreenPatrick Kane Net Worth 2025Nadia ComaneciAsmongoldFortnite Friday Streamer Awards 2025Stefon DiggsBill Belichick

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the validity of the practice among Muslim men to authorise a lawyer to send notices to his wife for divorce through three talaqs, each notified after a month’s gap, and said this would not be regarded as a valid annulment of marriage as the notices do not bear…

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7 things that happen when you walk for 10 minutes after each meal, as per Harvard-trained Gastroenterologist

7 things that happen when you walk for 10 minutes after each meal, as per Harvard-trained Gastroenterologist

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

The practice of walking after meals is a basic health-boosting habit, which many underestimate. However, a brief post-dinner walk produces multiple health advantages, which include enhanced blood sugar management, better digestion and improved sleep quality. Scientific studies from recent years demonstrate that walking after meals, helps people control their weight, and protects their heart health…

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If you start taking the new weight-loss medications, be ready to stay with it for a long time, says Dr V Mohan, Chennai-based senior diabetologist who has worked extensively on the epidemiology and genetics of the disease. Excerpts from his chat with TOI, which is partnering with Novo Nordisk India to spearhead the ‘Choose Your Weight’ campaign, which aims to change the narrative around obesity.Q: You have watched the evolution of weight-loss drugs through five decades of practice. Did you think they would emerge as such blockbuster drugs?A: Efforts to develop effective weight-reduction medicines have been on for decades. In the late 80s and 90s, drugs such as sibutramine, phentermine and orlistat were introduced that facilitated modest weight loss of 1kg or 2kg, and rarely around 5kg. Some of these drugs had major side-effects and were eventually banned. We, as physicians, began to lose hope that any drug would come along that could offer significant weight loss without significant side-effects.Then, we started getting drugs such as the GLP-1 receptor analogs (GLP-1RAs). Exenatide was the first; it came from the venom of a Gila monster in South America, and ensured significant weight loss than earlier drugs. Initially, we didn’t know how they worked, but they delayed gastric emptying and increased insulin release and glucagon reduction… They work through the potentiation of certain hormones in the intestine called GLP, the glucagon-like peptide. Researchers tried to make glucagon-like peptide itself, but it was very short-acting in the body. So, they started producing GLP-like substances.Exenatide was followed by liraglutide. We found these mainly anti-diabetic drugs offered a two-in-one response by helping people reduce weight. Not everyone responded the same way; some had both weight reduction and HbA1c reduction, others had only one; a small percentage had neither. Then came semaglutide, which took the world by storm. Semaglutide was a weekly injection marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. It got approved in the US separately for weight loss and diabetes, marking the first time an anti-diabetic drug was used solely for weight loss. It became a blockbuster drug with billions in sales, and millions started using it due to its unprecedented weight loss results, often 10-15 kg. The drug became so popular that it was hard to find, and new factories had to be built to meet the demand. Celebrities started using it, and before-and-after pictures were circulated widely. They were sold on the black market. This kind of success story with any drug had never been seen in the history of medicine.Q: But there are concerns about their side-effects…A: These drugs, including liraglutide and exenatide, work on the stomach, causing nausea initially. They must be started at a small dose and gradually increased to minimise side-effects. After four to eight weeks, side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea usually settle.Stomach paralysis is a rare side-effect. Another rare but serious side effect is blindness due to anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. One in 7,000-10,000 people who take these drugs can go blind. Such rare side-effects will surface only when millions start taking a drug. It’s like the Covid vaccination: as mass vaccination was carried out, we saw side-effects. We don’t know why those idiosyncratic reactions occur, but we must remember there’s no big FDA warning so far. Clearly, its benefits far outweigh the risks.Q: The experience in the West has shown that almost 50% of the patients stop the drug after a year or so. Why does this happen?A: Cost is a disadvantage, especially since there are no generic versions. The other reason is “plateauing”. After a patient loses 10kg, 15kg or 20kg, the drug’s effect plateaus off. In trials, those who stopped taking the drug started gaining weight. In one year, they regained 50% of the weight they lost. In practice, the minute people’s weight starts plateauing after taking the drug for a year or so, they stop as they don’t want to spend money on a drug that has seemingly stopped working.People think diet and exercise will help them, but obesity is complex. It’s not just calories in, calories out. If that was the case, there would be no need for these drugs. All these years people have been trying to lose weight but failed because of the brain: when one starts losing weight, the brain realises that you lost weight and immediately corrects itself trying to regain your weight. The point is that one needs to continue taking the drug to stay on that plateau.Q: New weight-loss drugs came to India only recently. What can we expect next?A: In India, we were waiting for semaglutide and tirzepatide to become available. The injectable forms were delayed until recently, but by March 2026, the patent for semaglutide will expire, allowing generic versions to enter the market. There are over 20 companies that plan to make generic versions available.Companies are now developing a third drug, retatrutide, which targets three hormones: GLP, GIP, and glucagon. It’s in late stages of development and shows promise for even greater weight loss.These drugs offer numerous benefits beyond weight loss, including reduced risk of heart attack, improved kidney function, and potential cognitive benefits. They also help reduce snacking and other addictions, like smoking. One of my patients who was asked to undergo bilateral knee replacement decided to go on weight-loss medication first; he lost 20kg and didn’t need replacement as the knee pain vanished.Q: What are the points to consider before taking up weight-loss drugs?A: One has to consider that when one loses 10kg, it’s not 10kg of fat. It’s 7kg of fat and 3kg of muscle. That means from the little muscle you have, 3kg is going to go. Hence, people get ozempic facies with muscles gone… As your strength will be reduced, one needs to increase protein intake, do some weight training and muscle strength training.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar To Take CM Oath For Record 10th Time At Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, PM Modi To AttendBangladesh To Seek Interpol’s Help To Extradite Sheikh Hasina From India’Fatwa Issued…’: BJP Jabs ‘Indira Nazi Congress’ For Criticising Tharoor Over Modi Speech PraiseRussia Showcases Missile-Only Pantsir SMD-E Air Defence System At Dubai Airshow 2025’We Hit India…’: Pakistani Leader’s Explosive Admission Unmasks Islamabad’s Terror Links Again’Can’t Rule Out All-Out War’: Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif Rattled Over Army Chief’s Sindoor 2.0 WarningSydney Horror Crash Kills 8-Month Pregnant Indian After Teen BMW Driver Slams Into Family WalkIndia Expands Its Diplomatic Presence In Russia As Jaishankar Highlights Strategic New ConsulatesTaliban Trade Minister Lands in Delhi Amid Major Afghan Shift Toward India After Pakistan ConflictChina’s Propaganda Strike On India Exposed, US Report Details Fake Jet Debris And J-35 Sales Tactics123PhotostoriesKajol’s films that open a quiet doorway back to nineties nostalgia5 national parks to visit in South America for adventure loversAre you eating chia seeds the wrong way? Harvard doctor reveals the 3 healthiest ways to consume them3 Ayurveda-approved drinks to reduce fatty liver naturally10 regional egg dishes from different parts of India5 beautiful white animals that look like furry snowballs8 things life teaches us the hard wayFrom Rajkummar Rao-Patralekhaa to Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh: Bollywood’s adorable baby girl squadFrom protection to independence: Smriti Irani’s modern parenting mantraSalman Khan to Shanaya Kapoor: 5 viral looks of the day setting today’s style mood123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodaySheikh Hasina VerdictBihar Government FormationGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingTrevon DiggsTom BradyJonathan OwensDraymond GreenPatrick Kane Net Worth 2025Nadia ComaneciAsmongoldFortnite Friday Streamer Awards 2025Stefon DiggsBill Belichick

If you start taking the new weight-loss medications, be ready to stay with it for a long time, says Dr V Mohan, Chennai-based senior diabetologist who has worked extensively on the epidemiology and genetics of the disease. Excerpts from his chat with TOI, which is partnering with Novo Nordisk India to spearhead the ‘Choose Your Weight’ campaign, which aims to change the narrative around obesity.Q: You have watched the evolution of weight-loss drugs through five decades of practice. Did you think they would emerge as such blockbuster drugs?A: Efforts to develop effective weight-reduction medicines have been on for decades. In the late 80s and 90s, drugs such as sibutramine, phentermine and orlistat were introduced that facilitated modest weight loss of 1kg or 2kg, and rarely around 5kg. Some of these drugs had major side-effects and were eventually banned. We, as physicians, began to lose hope that any drug would come along that could offer significant weight loss without significant side-effects.Then, we started getting drugs such as the GLP-1 receptor analogs (GLP-1RAs). Exenatide was the first; it came from the venom of a Gila monster in South America, and ensured significant weight loss than earlier drugs. Initially, we didn’t know how they worked, but they delayed gastric emptying and increased insulin release and glucagon reduction… They work through the potentiation of certain hormones in the intestine called GLP, the glucagon-like peptide. Researchers tried to make glucagon-like peptide itself, but it was very short-acting in the body. So, they started producing GLP-like substances.Exenatide was followed by liraglutide. We found these mainly anti-diabetic drugs offered a two-in-one response by helping people reduce weight. Not everyone responded the same way; some had both weight reduction and HbA1c reduction, others had only one; a small percentage had neither. Then came semaglutide, which took the world by storm. Semaglutide was a weekly injection marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. It got approved in the US separately for weight loss and diabetes, marking the first time an anti-diabetic drug was used solely for weight loss. It became a blockbuster drug with billions in sales, and millions started using it due to its unprecedented weight loss results, often 10-15 kg. The drug became so popular that it was hard to find, and new factories had to be built to meet the demand. Celebrities started using it, and before-and-after pictures were circulated widely. They were sold on the black market. This kind of success story with any drug had never been seen in the history of medicine.Q: But there are concerns about their side-effects…A: These drugs, including liraglutide and exenatide, work on the stomach, causing nausea initially. They must be started at a small dose and gradually increased to minimise side-effects. After four to eight weeks, side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea usually settle.Stomach paralysis is a rare side-effect. Another rare but serious side effect is blindness due to anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. One in 7,000-10,000 people who take these drugs can go blind. Such rare side-effects will surface only when millions start taking a drug. It’s like the Covid vaccination: as mass vaccination was carried out, we saw side-effects. We don’t know why those idiosyncratic reactions occur, but we must remember there’s no big FDA warning so far. Clearly, its benefits far outweigh the risks.Q: The experience in the West has shown that almost 50% of the patients stop the drug after a year or so. Why does this happen?A: Cost is a disadvantage, especially since there are no generic versions. The other reason is “plateauing”. After a patient loses 10kg, 15kg or 20kg, the drug’s effect plateaus off. In trials, those who stopped taking the drug started gaining weight. In one year, they regained 50% of the weight they lost. In practice, the minute people’s weight starts plateauing after taking the drug for a year or so, they stop as they don’t want to spend money on a drug that has seemingly stopped working.People think diet and exercise will help them, but obesity is complex. It’s not just calories in, calories out. If that was the case, there would be no need for these drugs. All these years people have been trying to lose weight but failed because of the brain: when one starts losing weight, the brain realises that you lost weight and immediately corrects itself trying to regain your weight. The point is that one needs to continue taking the drug to stay on that plateau.Q: New weight-loss drugs came to India only recently. What can we expect next?A: In India, we were waiting for semaglutide and tirzepatide to become available. The injectable forms were delayed until recently, but by March 2026, the patent for semaglutide will expire, allowing generic versions to enter the market. There are over 20 companies that plan to make generic versions available.Companies are now developing a third drug, retatrutide, which targets three hormones: GLP, GIP, and glucagon. It’s in late stages of development and shows promise for even greater weight loss.These drugs offer numerous benefits beyond weight loss, including reduced risk of heart attack, improved kidney function, and potential cognitive benefits. They also help reduce snacking and other addictions, like smoking. One of my patients who was asked to undergo bilateral knee replacement decided to go on weight-loss medication first; he lost 20kg and didn’t need replacement as the knee pain vanished.Q: What are the points to consider before taking up weight-loss drugs?A: One has to consider that when one loses 10kg, it’s not 10kg of fat. It’s 7kg of fat and 3kg of muscle. That means from the little muscle you have, 3kg is going to go. Hence, people get ozempic facies with muscles gone… As your strength will be reduced, one needs to increase protein intake, do some weight training and muscle strength training.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar To Take CM Oath For Record 10th Time At Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, PM Modi To AttendBangladesh To Seek Interpol’s Help To Extradite Sheikh Hasina From India’Fatwa Issued…’: BJP Jabs ‘Indira Nazi Congress’ For Criticising Tharoor Over Modi Speech PraiseRussia Showcases Missile-Only Pantsir SMD-E Air Defence System At Dubai Airshow 2025’We Hit India…’: Pakistani Leader’s Explosive Admission Unmasks Islamabad’s Terror Links Again’Can’t Rule Out All-Out War’: Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif Rattled Over Army Chief’s Sindoor 2.0 WarningSydney Horror Crash Kills 8-Month Pregnant Indian After Teen BMW Driver Slams Into Family WalkIndia Expands Its Diplomatic Presence In Russia As Jaishankar Highlights Strategic New ConsulatesTaliban Trade Minister Lands in Delhi Amid Major Afghan Shift Toward India After Pakistan ConflictChina’s Propaganda Strike On India Exposed, US Report Details Fake Jet Debris And J-35 Sales Tactics123PhotostoriesKajol’s films that open a quiet doorway back to nineties nostalgia5 national parks to visit in South America for adventure loversAre you eating chia seeds the wrong way? 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