Guest guest Posted February 19, 2003 Report Share Posted February 19, 2003 In a message dated 19/02/03 10:08:27 GMT Standard Time, healthy.pages writes: > Daily News from Healthypages > 19 February 2003 > _______________________________ > > Bollywood criticised for “glamorising†tobacco > > The World Health Organization (WHO) has accused the “Bollywood†film > industry of encouraging people to smoke by glamorising tobacco use. > > A WHO study, published on Tuesday (18/02/03), examined 400 recent Indian > films and found that 80 per cent include some form of tobacco use. > > The Indian film industry is the biggest in the world, producing more than > 900 movies every year. The films have a global appeal and are particularly > popular in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. > > According to WHO, the tobacco epidemic that now kills nearly 5 million > people per year is spread through advertising, sponsorship and promotion. > > Researchers interviewed industry professionals to find out why filmmakers > decide to include tobacco in scenes and to assess the prevalence of tobacco > brand placement in Indian films. > > President of Strategic Mediaworks Ambika Srivastava, who conducted the > study for WHO, said, “It is estimated that, in India alone, 15 million > people see Indian films everyday. Around 76 per cent of the top-rated films > portray smoking as the ‘cool’ thing to do. > > “Whether it is done consciously at the behest of the tobacco industry or > unwittingly, Bollywood cannot afford to ignore its potential in curbing the > tobacco epidemic any further.†> > Naj Dehalvi, a spokesperson for UK anti-smoking charity ASH, said product > placement was a huge problem. “It’s a serious concern that with the lack > of guidelines and restrictions internationally you have got a situation > where the tobacco industry might be infiltrating Bollywood. > > “Bollywood films are seen by more people than any other film industry and > that highlights the need for tighter controls,†he said. > > © HMG Worldwide 2003 > > > ******************************* > > Other stories > > UK study to explore role for doctors’ assistants > UK researchers are to evaluate the feasibility of introducing physician, or > doctor, assistants to alleviate GP workloads – an idea that has been > successfully adopted in the US. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2814 > > Thyroid cancer risk after hysterectomy > Women who have undergone a hysterectomy may be at an increased risk of > developing thyroid cancer, particularly in the first 18 months after the > operation, according to a Finnish study. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2812 > > Tuna health risk for babies > Pregnant and breastfeeding women have been warned to limit their > consumption of tuna in order to avoid harming their babies. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2811 > > Exercise “helps reduce job stress†> People who exercise regularly tend to have lower stress levels and a more > positive attitude than those who don’t, according to a joint UK and Hong > Kong study. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2810 > > Large families “pose heart risk†> People with many children may have an increased risk of heart disease, > according to UK researchers. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2809 > > Increase in waiting lists > The total number of people waiting for admission to hospital in England > rose by 6,400 last year, according to official figures. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2808 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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