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Ongoing conflict in West Asia to discourage investment into India: BMI

Fitch Group company BMI on Tuesday said that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could discourage investment in India, and offset the positive effects of trade deals with the EU and US on GDP. Despite the favourable readings of policy uncertainty so far in 2026, BMI kept the FY2026/27 growth outlook unchanged, projecting a 7 per cent GDP expansion. It, however, flagged risks to the outlook but said it is currently assessing the geopolitical situation to quantify its impact on India's GDP. "From March onwards, we expect uncertainty to increase sharply due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. We believe this will discourage investment in India, offsetting the (EU and US) trade deals' positive effects on GDP," BMI said in its India outlook report. The US and Israel jointly launched military strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran responded by firing drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf, and also at the global business hub of Dubai. BMI sa

India's GDP growth pegged at 7% in FY27 on favourable policies: BMI

BMI, a Fitch Group company, on Monday forecast a 7.4 per cent growth for the current fiscal and 7 per cent for FY27 saying a favourable policy environment bode well for India's economic outlook. It said that monetary and regulatory measures should stimulate investment and consumption over 2026-27 fiscal. "A strong advanced estimate of the current fiscal year's GDP, rising US-bound merchandise exports during the past two months, and a favourable policy environment bode well for India's economic outlook," BMI said in a report. The National Statistics Office (NSO) has projected a 7.4 per cent GDP expansion for FY2025/26 (April-March). This implies the government expects GDP will grow by around 7 per cent Y-o-Y on average in the second half of the fiscal year. The Indian economy grew at 6.5 per cent in 2024-25 fiscal. BMI revised upwards GDP forecast for 2025-26 to 7.4 per cent, up from 7.2 per cent projected earlier. It now expects GDP to rise by 7 per cent in FY2026-27, up from 6.6

FY27 fiscal deficit likely to overshoot target to touch 4.6%: BMI

BMI said fresh spending needs and lower tax receipts could push the deficit higher even if the government sets a 4.3 per cent fiscal deficit target in the 2026-27 Budget

Study finds waist-to-height ratio better predicts obesity risk with age

As muscle mass declines and abdominal fat rises with age, BMI can be misleading. A new study finds waist-to-height ratio better reflects real obesity risk in older adults

Nearly 70% of Americans may be obese under new norms, study warns

Researchers warn that the findings reflect a growing global health crisis, as outdated BMI standards fail to capture hidden fat-linked risks contributing to chronic disease.

'Fat but fit': New study finds being underweight deadlier than overweight

Those at the lower end of the "healthy" range also faced higher risks, with BMIs between 18.5 and 19.9 doubling the likelihood of death

Weak IP regime clouds pharma growth despite GST cuts, says BMI report

BMI warned India's weak IP protections deter global drugmakers, limiting access to innovative therapies, even as GST cuts on 33 lifesaving drugs lower costs and boost affordability

India may miss FY26 fiscal deficit target of 4.4% on slower growth: BMI

BMI projects India's fiscal deficit to narrow to 4.5% of GDP in FY26, citing slower growth, tariff risks, and higher state spending as challenges to fiscal consolidation

From blood pressure to mental health, key health checks men must not skip

From blood pressure to mental health, these essential screenings help men detect silent health risks early and stay ahead of preventable chronic conditions

Waist-to-height ratio more effective than BMI for obesity diagnosis: Study

Obesity can no longer be just defined by body mass index (BMI) and rather should be about how body fat is distributed throughout one's body, researchers said while launching a new framework for diagnosing and managing obesity. Published in the journal Nature Medicine, the framework looks specifically at fat accumulated in the abdomen, measured as 'waist-to-height ratio' -- an increased value of which is related to a higher risk of developing cardiometabolic complications, according to the researchers. An "important novelty" of the framework is including a waist-to-height ratio higher than 0.5, along with a BMI of 25-30, for diagnosing obesity, the authors, representing the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), said. "The choice of introducing waist-to-height ratio, instead of waist circumference, in the diagnostic process is due to its superiority as a cardiometabolic disease risk marker," they wrote. Accumulation of abdominal fat is a more reliable predictor of hea

Anti-obesity drug market on steady growth path in India, shows data

The anti-obesity drugs' market had a sluggish growth till 2021, says Sheetal Sapale, vice-president, commercial, Pharmarack, a market research firm

Plant-based meal packages associated with lower BMI in children: Study

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital explored if providing weekly plant-based snacks to families seeking food assistance

Best of BS Opinion: 7 questions after Ukraine, the problem with BMI & more

Here are the top BS Opinion articles of the day

Fit but fat: The problem with BMI

By definition, the BMI has to be inaccurate if it classifies a wide range of top athletes as overweight

'Global investors likely to be cautious on NIIF investments'

NIFF which is part of Fitch Group, said infrastructure sector in the country continues to face challenges, which is discouraging international investments