A Renowned Laparoscopic And Bariatric Surgeon From India.
A Renowned Laparoscopic And Bariatric Surgeon Srom India.
©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker Last week, my son had one of his first serious #publicspeaking assignments at school. As always, he wanted to set a benchmark for himself. With no siblings for comparison, he turned to my husband and me, eager to hear about our …
©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker “I am continuously trying, but I feel like I’m constantly failing.” This was the first thing she said when we started talking about her weight issues. She was a 32-year-old working mother of a 16 months old baby girl, struggling with …
Nineteen dietitians! That’s how many my patient had consulted before she walked into my clinic today for a consultation for #weightloss. She had tried everything—calorie counting, portion control, intermittent fasting, medical diets, naturopathy, —only to be met with the same assumptions: She must be eating too much. She must not be trying hard enough. It must be her fault.
“On one single day, eight different people commented on her weight. That night, she couldn’t sleep. Not because of hunger or discomfort, but because their words replayed over and over in her mind, louder than any diagnosis she had ever received.”
As a doctor, I see this all too often. People think that obesity is all about #gluttony and #sloth. Unfortunately, society has reduced obesity to an oversimplified equation: Eat less, move more. But if it were that easy, wouldn’t obesity have disappeared from our world by now?
The reality is far more complex. Obesity is a chronic, progressive condition influenced by genetics, hormones, metabolism, medications, gut microbiota, mental health, and more. Stress, sleep deprivation, and medical conditions all play a role. Food is just one of the many factors.
Yet, people tend to cling to this oversimplified narrative. They love to offer unsolicited advice without understanding the struggles that a person with obesity goes through. They don’t see the crushing frustration of doing everything right and still not seeing results. They don’t know what it’s like to wake up every day in a body that everyone feels entitled to judge. They don’t know the exhaustion of carrying not just extra weight, but the #shame and #stigma that is added to it.
I wish people would stop assuming. I wish they would see the person before the weight. And most of all, I wish they would understand—sometimes, the heaviest burden is not the body itself, but the weight of their words.
#ObesityAwareness #StopTheStigma #HealthNotJudgment #MoreThanFood #ChronicCondition #EndWeightBias #CompassionOverCriticism #MindYourWords #ObesityIsComplex #SeeThePerson #Bariatric Surgery #DrAparnaGovilBhasker
©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker Over the past week, I have been trying to figure out what is my real issue with the recent statement made by L&T Chairman, Mr. S. N. Subrahmanyan, proposing a 90-hour workweek. It’s not just him; similar sentiments were voiced by …
THE POWER OF A COMMON MAN ©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker My husband and I have always divided our household chores equally. If I order vegetables, he orders the fruits. If our cook doesn’t show up, either one of us can step in to cook. If …
©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker
As we step into 2025, a quarter of this century has already passed. It’s fascinating to reflect on the world of 1925, a hundred years ago, and to imagine what it might look like a hundred years ahead, in 2125. We are but travellers on the infinite road of time, covering a brief stretch before passing the baton to the next. Life in this universe, in its essence, is like a relay race—each generation carries the baton for a while before handing it over to the next, ensuring the journey continues.
And yet, in this grand relay, we often overestimate our importance. At most, we remember those who handed us the baton—perhaps one or two generations before us. But beyond that, the faces and names fade into obscurity, and eventually, all of us will be forgotten, our footprints washed away by the endless tides of time.
In our eagerness to sprint ahead, we sometimes miss the beauty around us—the vibrant moments, the connections, the simple joys that line the path we are traveling. We run so fast, striving for purpose, recognition, or legacy, that we tire ourselves out, forgetting that the race is eventually a relay and isn’t ours alone to finish.
This tendency to overestimate our role, to focus solely on forward motion, is uniquely human. Other living beings don’t run this race of overthinking; they simply exist, savouring the world around them. Whether this is a blessing or a curse depends on how we approach it. While it can inspire progress, purpose, and meaning, it can just as easily lead to stress and dissatisfaction. Perhaps the key lies in finding harmony—learning to embrace our unique drive while also taking the time to pause, reflect, and appreciate the journey.
As the new year begins, let’s resolve to run differently—not just for speed or significance but with awareness, gratitude, and a deep appreciation for the journey itself. After all, the baton will eventually be passed, whether we like it or not. Let’s ensure that while we hold it, we cherish the view and make the run worthwhile.
Here’s to a year of mindful traveling through life. Happy New Year!
Beyond the prescription ©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker I’ve always enjoyed talking to my patients, and as much as I love surgery, I truly cherish my time in the OPD. However, the time available in the OPD is limited, and we need to cover a lot …
KEEP THE FAITH Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker Last week marked my son’s 11th birthday! We celebrated this milestone with an unforgettable family getaway in Goa. I was hoping to avoid the usual pressure of organizing a birthday party and the works…. (that plan kind of …
रेप तो हर जगह होता है
©डॉ. अपर्णा गोविल भास्कर
कुछ लोग कहते हैं, क्या हुआ जो एक डॉक्टर का रेप हुआ, रेप तो हर जगह होता है,
कभी रात के अंधेरे में , तो कभी भरी दुपहरी में,
कभी सुनसान सड़कों पे, तो कभी भरे बाज़ार में,
कभी एक जवान लड़की का, कभी एक छोटी बच्ची का तो कभी एक बूढ़ी औरत का,
कभी शहर में तो कभी गाँव में; कभी घर के बाहर, तो कभी घर के अंदर,
कभी ऑफिस में, कभी स्कूल में, और अब तो ये अस्पताल में भी होता है,
कभी अनजान दरिंदे होते हैं, तो कभी कुछ अपने ही कर देते हैं।
कुछ लोग कहते हैं, क्या हुआ जो एक डॉक्टर का रेप हुआ, रेप तो हर जगह होता है।
कहते हैं, ज़रूर लड़की की ही गलती होगी; छोटी स्कर्ट या क़मीज़ पहनी होगी,
रात को अकेले क्यों घूम रही थी; लाइब्रेरी में क्यों देर रात पढ़ रही थी,
क्यों किसी के साथ नहीं चल रही थी; क्यों लड़कों पे विश्वास कर रही थी।
कुछ लोग कहते हैं, क्या हुआ जो एक डॉक्टर का रेप हुआ, रेप तो हर जगह होता है।
सुना नहीं आपने? रेप एक ‘स्ट्रे इन्सिडेंट’ है, जो कहीं भी हो सकता है,
डाल लीजिए अब इसकी आदत, क्योंकि आज कोलकाता, कल दिल्ली और परसों मुंबई में हुआ था,
कल कहीं और होगा, क्योंकि ये तो हर जगह होता है, हर रोज़ होता है,
रेप से ख़ानदान का ही नहीं, अब देश का नाम खराब होता है।
कुछ लोग कहते हैं, क्या हुआ जो एक डॉक्टर का रेप हुआ, रेप तो हर जगह होता है।
सालों लग जाएंगे, पर रेपिस्ट शायद ही पकड़े जाएंगे,
लड़की के माँ-बाप रोते रह जाएंगे, सोचते रह जाएंगे, खुद को कोसते रह जाएंगे,
लेकिन दोस्त ये याद रखना, कल हमारे बच्चे भी इसी सोसाइटी में आएंगे,
अगर आज हम चुप रह जाएंगे, तो कल शायद हमारे दिल भी टूट जाएंगे।
इसलिए पूछो आज उन लोगों से जो ये कहते हैं, क्या हुआ जो एक डॉक्टर का रेप हुआ, रेप तो हर जगह होता है,
क्या करते आप जो आपके घर में ये होता? क्या करते आप जो आपकी होती वो बेटी, बहन या पत्नी?
क्या करते आप अगर ये आप पे गुज़री होती?
रेप तो हर जगह होता है, पर सर ये हर बार पर्सनल होता है।
©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker This morning, as our honourable Prime Minister hoisted the Indian flag at the Red Fort in celebration of the 78th Independence Day, the celebration felt hollow for nearly half of this country’s population which is constituted by women. What we feel …