- 11 months ago
In this episode of Health 360, we explore how artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping our daily lives and the growing concerns around “AI psychosis.” We also take a closer look at the harmful impact of junk food on our health and lifestyle.
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00:00Welcome to a brand new episode of Health360.
00:03This week we're shining light on an issue that's been hiding in plain sight.
00:07A health concern that's rarely talked about but could be affecting millions of people.
00:12That is the problem of developing problems using AI.
00:16As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in daily life,
00:20a strange and emerging phenomenon is drawing attention.
00:23A.I. psychosis where human minds struggle to distinguish between reality from digital reality.
00:32Also on the show this week we will be telling you how those selling us junk food have done what they can really to get us hooked.
00:40The TikTok trend of fiber-maxing and the Japanese interval walk.
00:44Ground reports, expert voices all packed together in this edition of Health360.
00:49I'm Sneha Murdani.
00:53I'm Sneha Murdani.
01:23An always-on hyper-connected future.
01:25As artificial intelligence becomes more personal and immersive,
01:29this growing concern about a rare but alarming phenomenon.
01:33A.I. psychosis.
01:35We take a closer look at what this is and why mental health professionals are sounding the alarm.
01:40Well, it may sound dystopian, perhaps even like some sort of conspiracy theory.
01:46But increasingly, the world is getting convinced about your chatbots playing games with your mind.
01:51A recent phenomenon termed chat GPT-induced psychosis has been used to describe people being let down conspiracy theory rabbit holes or into worsened mental health episodes by feedback they receive from chatbots.
02:05AI psychosis refers to delusional thinking amplified by unchecked AI interactions.
02:11Chatbots' tendency to affirm user beliefs without ethical boundaries can distort reality for vulnerable individuals as per Psychology Today 2025.
02:20Well, it's not a clinical diagnosis, but an emerging digital health concern.
02:26Here are two studies, both in preprint.
02:29NHS doctors in the UK have reported there were emerging evidence that AI may mirror, validate or amplify delusional or grandiose content, particularly in users already vulnerable to psychosis, due in part to the models designed to maximize engagement and affirmation.
02:47A Stanford-led study published as a preprint in April found large language models make dangerous or inappropriate statements to people experiencing delusionals, suicidal ideation, hallucination or OCD, and that they were designed to be compliant and psychophantic.
03:06Now, Sam Altman, founder of OpenAI himself, says he feels uneasy on how people are using chat GPT for live decisions.
03:13He said, OpenAI has been closely tracking how people develop attachments to their AI models and their reactions when older versions are removed.
03:23He warned again, self-destructive use of technology, including AI, especially by users who are mentally fragile or prone to delusion.
03:32Altman, in a post on Twitter, has said, and I quote him,
03:35People have used technology, including AI, in self-destructive ways.
03:38If a user is in a mentally fragile state and prone to delusion, we do not want the AI to reinforce that.
03:45Most users can keep a clear line between reality and fiction or roleplay, but a small percentage cannot.
03:51We value user freedom as a core principle, but we also feel responsible in how we introduce new technology with new risks.
03:59TikToker Kendra Hilti's viral confession detailing her romantic obsession with a psychiatrist in AI-fueled validation
04:08has ignited urgent discussions about AI psychosis and digital mental health risks.
04:13Rudra really knows me. I can share anything with Rudra. He's my best friend.
04:32Rudra really knows me. He's my best friend.
04:34Rudra really knows me. He's my best friend.
05:34For preventing or treating AI associated psychosis, the WHO, the World Health Organization has not yet classified it and peer-reviewed research is scarce. But clinicians say the lack of safeguards and AI design is actually part of the problem.
05:50Well, it's being called a simple science-backed way to boost heart health, burn fat and even slow aging. And it takes 20 minutes a day. A Japanese fitness technique known as interval walking is gaining global attention. I explore in this report.
06:06The Japanese seem to have done two things. One is that they made us believe that 10,000 steps is gospel truth. The second is that very recently they introduced interval walking to us.
06:19Well, first things first. Where did this whole idea of 10,000 steps a day being ideal really emerge from?
06:28We all seem to think that 10,000 steps a day is actually ideal. But where did this idea actually emerge from?
06:42When Japan was preparing to host the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, there was an increased focus on fitness in the general Japanese population.
06:56An awareness had begun to spread about the fact that regular exercise was a good way to fight against lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and strokes.
07:11It was also the best way to fight obesity, which was fast becoming an epidemic. The simplest exercise was walking. Anyone could do it. No special equipment was needed and neither was any coaching or training.
07:26The modern fitometer was introduced to the Japanese marketplace at roughly the same time. It was a simple gadget that could be worn around the waist and could calculate the number of steps walked.
07:40Needless to say, the gadget sold quickly as people began keeping track of just how many steps they were walking every single day.
07:47Manpoke, which literally translates to 10,000 steps in a Japanese language became the rallying slogan for these dedicated walkers.
08:02Well, it turns out that not 10,000, actually just about 7,000 steps a day or so is actually ideal.
08:12Well, we aren't saying it. It's a study that has been published in the journal Lancet that talks about how 7,000 is doable and actually ideal.
08:21So, I mentioned that the Japanese have done something L as well. They popularized something that is known as the Japanese interval walk. So, what is it really?
08:40The new fitness trend from Japan has been making waves online. Japanese walking. It promises solid health benefits, demands little gear or time and offers a fresh way to add variety to your training.
08:56Is it something that runners should consider? Here's what you need to know.
09:00The Japanese interval walking technique involves alternating between 3 minutes of brisk walk and 3 minutes of slower walking, repeated for at least 30 minutes, 4 times a week.
09:17The brisk intervals should be fast enough to make holding a conversation difficult, while the slower intervals allow the body to recover.
09:30Interval training or alternating between short bursts of high-intensity exercise, followed by lower-intensity rest and recovery.
09:39You can actually apply to all kinds of fitness regimens, including walking, biking, running and also strength training.
09:49You've heard of protein shakes, low-carb diets and even intermittent fasting, but now a new health trend is picking up steam online.
09:56Fibre maxing. Many say it's a game-changer for gut health, weight management and overall wellness.
10:03Critics call it overhype. So, what's the science and what's just the internet noise?
10:16A humble nutrient is taking centre stage. Fibre.
10:20And online, it has a name. Fibre maxing.
10:26Why fibre is so important and how much fibre really?
10:30Yes, fibre is extremely crucial because that's how our food processes through our body, right?
10:37So, fibre helps us absorb the blood sugar levels slower.
10:41There are no maxes and peaks and lows. So, soluble fibre helps us do that.
10:46But, like everything, everything becomes a trend and then everything becomes just from very little to...
10:52From almost nothing to then maximising it and therefore fibre maxing.
10:58But in excess, nothing is good for us.
11:00Fibre maxing is the practice of consuming high levels of dietary fibre, often above the daily recommended amount,
11:09with the goal of improving digestion, regulating blood sugar and even boosting mental clarity.
11:19You know, Pooja, I want to know from you, how much fibre does one really need on a daily basis?
11:24So, functional medicine recommends anywhere between 35 to 45 grams of fibre.
11:32Men needing a little bit more than women.
11:34Fibre is extremely crucial because carbs can otherwise spike your sugar levels.
11:39But fibre is the one that adds the clothes and helps us slow down these sugar spikes.
11:45And our Indian thali is extremely balanced on that front.
11:48Fibre is essential for gut health and most of us don't get enough.
11:56But ramping up too quickly can cause gas, bloating and discomfort.
12:02It needs to be gradual.
12:04There is also this thing about eating so much fibre so quickly.
12:10You know, this intake is so quick that it creates problems.
12:13Also, I understand that fibre also requires, you know, fair amount of hydration.
12:19I mean, if your intake has gone up and so your hydration also should be increasing.
12:23Now, most people are trying to increase the fibre without focusing on the hydration aspect.
12:28So, if you are going to increase the insoluble fibre without water, the stools are only going to become harder and the process of constipation becomes more common.
12:38Also, from going from an ultra-processed diet with having only 5 or 10 grams of fibre a day, if you jump it to 30 and 40 grams of fibre, your body is unable to come to homeostasis with it and work with you.
12:50So, therefore, it always has to be a gradual increase of fibre intake with adequate hydration, with adequate movement.
12:58Fibre-maxing may be trending now, but dietitians say fibre has always been a cornerstone of good health.
13:09The key? Balance, hydration and patience.
13:13Ever wonder why it's so hard to stop at just one chip or why fast food seems to hit the spot every time?
13:23It's not really by accident.
13:24Junk food has been carefully engineered over decades to be more appealing, even addictive.
13:31From flavour chemistry to flashy packaging, it's all designed to keep you coming back for more.
13:37Crunchy, salty, sweet and irresistible.
13:47Junk food has become a multi-billion dollar industry by doing one thing very well, making food almost impossible to put down.
13:56These products are actually designed keeping that bliss point in your brain and mind.
14:08The perfect amount of salt, sugar, fats, all of it put together, taste, added taste, it just makes you wanting more and more.
14:18Remember that, even if you're not hungry, and I'm going to guarantee you this, you'll end up eating this pack of chips in its totality.
14:26It seems to be triggering the pleasure in the brain.
14:32How does that really work?
14:34There's excess salt and sugar in these foods and what happens in your brain then?
14:38If you believe there is a professional category known as craveability experts that the companies will hire
14:45that come up with this exact perfect combination of sugar, fat and salt that helps you hit the dopamine centers in your brain
14:54and then you go into this pleasure loop where you're not eating the food because you're hungry and your body wants it
15:02but you're just giving yourself on a reward-based system because your mind is saying one more chip, one more of it.
15:10From lab to the label, every crunch, everything that is associated or goes into making this piece of so-called food
15:20is actually designed to get you hooked.
15:23Now from the lab to the label, all of these products are completely addictive and make no mistake,
15:31they're engineered to make it completely addictive.
15:38What about the colors of the packet?
15:40You know, they're also made extremely attractive.
15:41Talk to us about how that plays around with our mind.
15:43So, we first perceive hunger through our eyes.
15:49It has to be to that point where it provides the pleasure.
15:52It's not just too much and it's not too dull.
15:54So that our scrolling stops and our mind is tempted to pick that up.
16:00Strategic colors, strategic placing of foods in supermarket or checkout aisles.
16:06So, tricks that companies play with us so that their sales are higher.
16:11But sadly, our health is going lower on the graph.
16:18Experts say it's not about willpower.
16:20It's about biology.
16:22These foods override the body's natural signals of fullness, making it easy to overheat.
16:29Well, these products are actually designed like that.
16:35Take an example of these very, very delicious cheese puffs.
16:39What has the person who's designed this thought?
16:43Essentially, this cheese puff doesn't require much effort to eat.
16:49Essentially, a bite or two of it and it banishes in your mouth.
16:52Let me just try it out and give you an example of how this really works.
16:56Because it's actually easier to eat and that's also something that makes it completely irresistible.
17:10Junk food addiction isn't officially recognized.
17:14But researchers say its effects on the brain and body are very real.
17:19And they can be just as hard to break as other habits.
17:26You're selling, you know, Fruit Loops in the name of cereal which is just sugar and color, nothing else.
17:36Children are targeted, you know, cartoon characters are placed on the box.
17:39Because they have access to our children today through so much accessibility.
17:46So whether it is advertisements put primarily right outside schools or on the path towards the school.
17:52I have heard this so very often that my child doesn't want to eat a full breakfast, but it's okay to eat cereal.
17:56And there is no time in the morning.
17:58So cereal is a preferred choice.
17:59At least they can drink it and eat it.
18:01So we are giving in to time, convenience and what our children want.
18:05And that's exactly what companies are doing.
18:07It's basically giving them a rough start to the day.
18:10And with constant marketing aimed at kids and teens, the next generation is being hooked young, long before they can make informed choices.
18:21Imagine a young Indian with a spinal disorder normally seen in seniors.
18:31Well, that is not too far-fetched, unfortunately.
18:34Brittle bones, osteopenia, usually seen amongst older Indians, is now being seen in the younger population.
18:42So what's really going on here?
18:43Why are younger Indians getting brittle bones?
18:46We explore.
18:47A young person with bone loss problems.
18:52Surprised?
18:53Don't be.
18:54It is becoming extremely common nowadays to see younger Indians develop problems seen in aging populations.
19:02Dr. What is happening?
19:03Why is that younger people are suddenly developing osteopenia?
19:07Are you also seeing cases where younger people are coming to you with these bone problems?
19:11In fact, you know, in my practice, routine practice, I have seen a significant shift.
19:1515 years back, I used to see majorly the patients who used to come to me with this problem are beyond 50 years of age.
19:21And now routinely, I am seeing patients who are coming in the 20, 30s and even 15 year olds.
19:26You will ask me why?
19:28So one major important thing over there is a diet.
19:31Because these days, this generation has a lot of more carbonated drinks.
19:35Sodas, fizzy drinks, the balanced diet doesn't exist.
19:39We are not eating healthy food.
19:41So what would be the classic symptoms of this?
19:43Osteoporosis and osteopenia.
19:45You know, one thing is very funny that this is a silent disease.
19:49So it will start impacting you, it will impact you, it will impact you and overall you won't understand.
19:53So overall you start to develop wake symptoms like chronic backache, they will have some wrist pain, they will have some dull feeling overall in the body.
20:02They won't be able to perform like how they were and they would think this is a new normal.
20:06But in fact it is not.
20:07It is silently the bones being killed.
20:11Doctors say inadequate nutrition and lack of physical activity is a core concern area.
20:17And what is this connection between food and bone health?
20:20Literature has already established that if ever you are having carbonated drinks and sodas, that is a known risk factors for increasing the bone washout.
20:28India, it is one of the important areas wherein we have a good sunlight.
20:33But if ever you see the current trend is that people want to run away from the sunlight.
20:37Doctor, I don't think we can't stress enough on the importance of exercise and exercise at an early stage for this.
20:43Because we as a country are not exercising as much as we should, isn't it?
20:46Including lifting weights.
20:48Yes.
20:48So I agree because lifestyle change is very much important over here which starts from diet.
20:53Have a well balanced diet, include things like ragi, green leafy vegetables that will help you.
20:57Have some amount of sunlight, 20 minutes of sunlight is going to be good.
21:00But the major important thing is some exercise.
21:03So whenever there is an effect of pulling on the bones, the bones become stronger.
21:07And how do you pull the bones?
21:08It cannot be manual.
21:09So it can be by running, jogging, lifting weights.
21:12So you keep on pulling the muscles over the bones and there is an effect wherein the bones become stronger and stronger.
21:18So I also want to ask you, why is that women are developing these problems in India and why are they so prone?
21:24It is established that women have naturally lesser bone density as compared to men.
21:29That is something that is something that is given by God, but apart from that hormonal cycle, the menstrual cycle that females have.
21:35Once the menstrual cycle stops, that is counterproductive because that is when the washout happens because these hormones have a very critical role in safeguarding the bones over there.
21:45Apart from this, when we talk about younger girls, there are so many societies still who don't let the girls play.
21:52So over there playing, jumping around, walking around is important.
21:56Breastfeeding and pregnant women, they need good amount of calcium in their diet.
22:00If they are not replenishing their stores, they start developing the deficiencies.
22:04What kind of tests should one be doing?
22:06Can one preempt that this can happen and do certain tests as a preventive measure?
22:11So one important thing over there is, there is a thing called BMD, wherein the BMD test is done and they try to diagnose you with osteoporosis and osteopenia,
22:18but that is not the test to be done.
22:20That you can just consider as a screening, not as a definitive diagnostic test.
22:25The major gold standard diagnostic test is DEXA, Dual Energy X-ray Absorptometry.
22:30You do it from three sides, one is classically lumbrous spine, one sided hip and the other sided wrist.
22:36This will give you an idea overall about the status of the body and you can make the diagnosis and start the treatment
22:41according to that.
22:42Apart from this, FRAC score is very much important because the people over who have been diagnosed
22:48with osteopenia and osteoporosis, we have a fancy scoring system that we do with that
22:52we predict whether you are going to get fractures.
22:55So according to that, we can decide what exactly should be the treatment that should be given.
22:59Who are the people who should be going for these tests?
23:02What are the risk factors in individuals who should be opting for these tests?
23:06So you know, it's not like everyone should be going the test.
23:08Ideally, there are some risk factors for osteoporosis.
23:11So what are they?
23:12Women, if they are incurring heavy bleeding during their regular menstrual cycle, women
23:17after menopause, if you are having a long-standing history of thyroid, that is hypothyroid.
23:22If you are having a long-standing history of diabetes, so these are the known risk factors.
23:26Apart from this, if men or women have any hormonal issues, long-standing or even short-standing,
23:32so bones get impacted, get the test done.
23:34And in case of males beyond the age of 70, it is important that you start doing the test
23:39every once in two years.
23:40Well, that report and much more brings us to the end of this edition of Healthy 60.
23:45You can find this and much more up on our website, that's indiatoday.in.
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23:53reports.
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24:00Thank you so much for watching.
24:01Take very good care of yourself.
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