India hosts SG9 meeting to advance standards for Television technology (GS Paper 2, International Organisation)
Why in news?
- For the first time that India is hosting the SG9 meeting.
- The meeting is being held from May 9- May 18, 2023, and this is the first physical meeting of SG9, which is being held after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Venue:
- The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) are organising the meeting of ITU-T Study Group 9 (SG-9) on “Broadband Cable and Television/Audiovisual content transmission and integrated broadband cable networks” at the IISc campus.
- The SG9 looks at various aspects of transmission, distribution, and rendering of cable and broadband TV.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU):
- Established in 1865, ITU facilitates international connectivity in communications networks.
- It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, while also developing the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect.
- It tries to improve access to Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in underserved communities worldwide.
- SG 9 at ITU is responsible for telecommunication systems for the primary and secondary distribution of audiovisual content, including accessibility services and emerging interactive media.
Don't use artificial sweeteners for weight loss: WHO's latest advisory
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised against the use of non-sugar sweeteners to control body weight or reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases.
- The WHO guideline on NSS is part of a suite of existing and forthcoming guidelines on healthy diets that aim to establish lifelong healthy eating habits, improve dietary quality and decrease the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide.
Key findings:
- The recommendation is based on the findings of a review of the available evidence, which suggests that use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) does not provide any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.
- The findings also suggest that there may be potential undesirable impact from long-term use of NSS, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults.
Guideline on NSS:
- NSS are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value.
- The recommendation applies to all people except individuals with pre-existing diabetes and includes all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars.
- These sweeteners are found in manufactured foods and beverages, or sold on their own to be added to foods and beverages by consumers.
- Common NSS include acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives.
- The guideline does not apply to personal care and hygiene products containing NSS, such as toothpaste, skin cream, and medications, or to low-calorie sugars and sugar alcohols (polyols), which are sugars or sugar derivatives containing calories and are therefore not considered NSS.
Way Forward:
- Replacing free sugars with NSS does not help with weight control in the long term.
- People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages.
