The <keyword id="6355014" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="delhi-high-court" source="Orion">Delhi High Court</keyword> on Wednesday stayed the new guidelines of the <keyword id="2619929" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="central-consumer-protection-authority" source="Orion">Central Consumer Protection Authority</keyword> (CCPA) restraining restaurants from adding a <keyword id="628642" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="service-charge" source="Orion">service charge</keyword> by default to food bills. While hearing the plea of the <keyword id="146581" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-restaurant-association-of-india" source="Orion">National Restaurant Association of India</keyword> (NRAI)challenging the newly issued guidelines, Justice Yashwant Varma remarked: "Don't pay. Don't enter the restaurant. It's a matter of choice." Granting the stay, the <keyword id="6355578" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="court" source="Orion">Court</keyword> has also directed that the information regarding levy of Service Charge should be displayed on menu cards and also otherwise displayed so that customer is aware of this charge. Importantly, the Court also clarified that the Service Charge cannot be levied on any takeaway orders. NRAI is very relieved with the passing of this order because it otherwise had a direct adverse impact on the human capital employed in the trade. In its response to the verdict, the NRAI said it has always been steadfast in its assertion that there is nothing illegal in levying of Service Charge and it is a very transparent system. "We are very glad that the Delhi High Court has upheld and confirmed this view. As a responsible <keyword id="8977306" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="restaurant-body" source="Orion">Restaurant Body</keyword>, NRAI will soon send out advisories to all its Members about the conditions spelled out by the Hon'ble Delhi High Court and will urge all Members to comply with them in totality," it said in a statement. The plea of the NRAI before the court said: "In the absence of due authentication and promulgation of the guidelines, the contents thereof cannot be treated as an order of the government". "The levying of service charge is a matter of contract and decision of the management. The levying of service charge is displayed at various places in the restaurant. The same is also displayed on the menu cards of the restaurants. Once the customer places the order after being made aware of the terms and conditions there comes into existence a binding contract. No authority can interfere with the binding nature of a valid contract until and unless it is shown and proved to be unconscionable or is an unfair trade practice," it stated. "The levying of service charge is a universally accepted trade practice. Service charge is being levied in various countries like the UK, Singapore, Japan, and the US with varying percentages between 8 per cent and 12.5 per cent. In the UK, accounting and distribution of service charge is also done through an independent agency through a system called Tronc," it said further. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which comes under the <keyword id="393956" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-consumer-affairs" source="Orion">Ministry of Consumer Affairs</keyword>, has issued guidelines for preventing unfair trade practices and violation of consumer rights with regard to the hotels and restaurants levying service charge, stating that the consumer may lodge a complaint with the <keyword id="544939" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-consumer-helpline" source="Orion">National Consumer Helpline</keyword> (NCH) against such practice. The CCPA said that the consumer may make a request to the concerned hotel or restaurant to remove service charge from the bill amount. The consumer may also file a complaint against unfair trade practices with the Consumer Commission. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/in-gujarat-children-given-jobs-under-mgnregs-and-issued-job-cards-and-bank-accounts/articleshow/93007785.cms">In Gujarat, children given jobs under MGNREGS and issued job cards and bank accounts</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-government-releases-work-from-home-rules-allows-it-for-one-year-maximum/articleshow/93007196.cms">Indian government releases work from home rules, allows it for one year maximum</a>

Delhi HC stays guidelines that say no service charge must be levied on food bills

While asserting that pricing of the product covers both the goods and services component, the <keyword id="393956" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-consumer-affairs" source="Orion">Ministry of consumer affairs</keyword> said that the <keyword id="544939" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="national-consumer-helpline" source="Orion">national consumer helpline</keyword> has received many complaints regarding addition of service charge by restaurants and hotels in the bill without the consent of consumers. "A component of service is inherent in the price of food and beverages offered by the restaurant or hotel. Pricing of the product thus covers both the goods and services component. There is no restriction on hotels or restaurants to set the prices at which they want to offer food or beverages to consumers," said <keyword id="6355222" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="piyush-goyal" source="Orion">Piyush Goyal</keyword>, the minister of consumer affairs in a written reply in the <keyword id="6355187" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="Orion">Lok Sabha</keyword> on Wednesday. At the pre-litigation stage, a consumer can lodge a complaint in the National Consumer Helpline. During 2019-20, a total of 658 complaints were filed regarding levy of service charge in National Consumer Helpline. For the year 2020-21 and 2021-22, 99 and 413 such complaints were filed respectively. All the complaints have been disposed of with either resolution provided by the concerned hotel or restaurant or with the advice to the consumer to approach consumer commission. The minister in the reply said that the <keyword id="2619929" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="central-consumer-protection-authority" source="Orion">Central Consumer Protection Authority</keyword>, taking cognizance of such complaints being received on National Consumer Helpline regarding levy of service charge by hotels and restaurants, has issued guidelines to prevent unfair trade practices and protection of consumer interest with regard to levy of service charge in hotels and restaurants on 4th July, 2022. "The guidelines issued by CCPA stipulate that hotels and restaurants shall not add service charge automatically or by default in the food bill and have to clearly inform the consumer that service charge is voluntary, optional and at consumer's discretion. These guidelines do not prohibit a consumer to pay tips to serving staff voluntarily," said the reply.

Receiving many complaints about hotel service charge says Consumer Affairs ministry

<ul><li>The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has made it easier to file consumer complaints.</li><li>You can now use WhatsApp to file consumer complaints, check the status of your complaint and read FAQs.</li><li>Here is how to file a <keyword id="461597" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="consumer-complaint" source="Orion">consumer complaint</keyword> using WhatsApp.</li></ul> As a customer, when you receive a substandard product or service, you may think about filing a consumer complaint but give up on the idea thinking about the cumbersome process. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has made filing consumer complaints easier. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has partnered with Gupshup, a conversational engagement platform, to introduce a WhatsApp chatbot that allows consumers to easily file complaints with the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), check complaint status, and read the frequently asked questions (FAQs). The WhatsApp chatbot is currently available in English and Hindi languages. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How to file a consumer complaint using WhatsApp" comment="subhead" text="How to file a consumer complaint using WhatsApp">How to file a consumer complaint using WhatsApp</cmsannotation> <div type="image" title="1" msid="98807196" hostid="261" sizebytes="92716" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;WhatsApp chatbot to file a consumer complaint&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <ul><li>To begin, save 8800001915 in your contacts or click<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone=918800001915&amp;text=Hi"> here</a>.</li><li>Then, go to the chat and send “Hi”.</li><li>Then, select the language from English and Hindi.</li><li>Now, click on “Register Grievance” if you want to file a complaint against any company.</li><li>If you wish to check the status of a filed complaint, click on “Grievance Status”.</li><li>If you have any questions about the process, filing complaints or the redressal process, click on “FAQ”.</li></ul>If you click on Register Grievance, you will be asked to submit the following information – <ul><li>Your full name</li><li>Gender</li><li>OTP</li><li>State</li><li>City</li></ul>Once you have submitted the above information, you will be asked to submit information relating to the company – <div type="image" title="2" msid="98807244" hostid="261" sizebytes="135142" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Details regarding the company you wish to complaint against&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <ul><li>Industry the company belongs to.</li><li>Category the company operates in.</li><li>Then, you will be able to select a company from the list.</li></ul>Once you have selected a company, you will be asked to select the nature of the grievance or why you are filing the complaint against the company. There are 27 reasons for you to select from, including a misleading advertisement, delivery of a defective product, paid amount not refunded, and more. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/how-to/how-to-read-instagram-messages-without-being-seen/articleshow/98535023.cms">How to read Instagram messages without being seen</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/how-to-use-credit-card-to-make-upi-payments/articleshow/98090488.cms">How to use credit card to make UPI payments</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/how-to-check-your-credit-score-for-free/articleshow/96050534.cms">How to check your credit score for free</a>

How to file a consumer complaint against a company using WhatsApp

<ul><li>Sonu Sood recently received UNDP’s Special Humanitarian Action Award.</li><li>He has emerged as a knight in shining armour and been applauded for his humanitarian work to send thousands of stranded migrants back home during the lockdown. </li><li>His rising affinity on social media has also helped him get popular in the brandverse. </li><li>We speak to experts to find out if the recognition from UNDP will finally help get Sonu Sood longer brand deals and bigger brands now. </li></ul>Sonu Sood, who plays an antagonist in most of his movies, is becoming India’s hero in real life. On September 30, he was honoured with the Special Humanitarian Action Award by the United Nations Development Programme for his selfless efforts to help people in challenging times. In the beginning of the lockdown, Sood and his team launched an initiative called #GharBhejoAbhiyaan that helped thousands of migrants who were longing to come back home. He later launched #<a href="https://twitter.com/PravasiRojgar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1286322666580742144%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.socialsamosa.com%2F2020%2F08%2Fsonu-sood-campaigns-endorsements-through-the-lockdown%2F">PravasiRojgar</a> to help jobless migrants find a job and restore their livelihoods. He sent a few smartphones to students in Haryana who couldn’t afford online classes and helped students stranded across the globe return to the country safely. Soon, newspapers made special cartoons on him to celebrate the knight in shining armour and #Isupporttheherosonusood started trending on Twitter. It is for his philanthropic work that Sood is becoming popular even in the brandverse. Indian brands like Pepsi, Lay’s, Tata Tea Premium, Stayfree India, Edelweiss Tokio Life, Godrej Interio, WhiteHat Jr, ZEE5, to name a few, have approached him to help spread awareness on different social causes. Even in his brand work, Sood has spoken about the importance of wearing a mask, recognising everyday warriors around us, supporting local craftsmen, etc. Since he acted like a ‘Vighnaharta’ during the lockdown, Mangaldeep Agarbatti also approached him during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Sonu Sood’s relief efforts for the migrants during the COVID-19 lockdown earned him praise from all quarters. He emerged a hero for his selfless, kind-hearted efforts for the community. It was due to his selfless image and uniqueness that brands started capitalizing on his growing popularity. Ergo, his brand value is also increasing subsequently. According to media reports, Sood is worth $17 million. However, it was only in early September that Acer signed a long-term deal with him. Sharing why the brand decided to on-board Sood, Sooraj Balakrishnan, Head-Marketing, Acer India said, “Apart from his exemplary work in cinemas where he is a well-renowned actor cutting across India, Sonu Sood has stood out in 2020 as an example of selfless service and humanitarian work that positively impacted and benefited thousands, if not lakhs of people in need during the pandemic. His contribution to empowering people echoes with Acer India’s brand mantra of empowering people through technology.” Balakrishnan agreed that Sood’s rising popularity is an indication that the consumers are looking for honest and real work now. He said, “People are looking for brands and public figures who have a purpose to make positive changes with honest and real work. Glamour alone will not sell and people like Sonu have really used his position for the good of people. I can vouch for his humbleness, genuine passion to help, and dedication to the cause during my interactions with him. Acer is proud to have him as our brand ambassador and we wish him more recognition for his work.” Apart from trust, caring, empathetic, relatability, and style, Kalyan Ram Challapalli, Chief Strategist and Founder, WolfzHowl Strategic Instigations, said one should also note his Bollywood-led personality attributes to evaluate him as a brand endorser. he is known for a good body (with muscles etc;), a sense of style (fashion) etc Challapalli said, “Brand Sonu Sood can also include attributes of health, fitness, style and fashion. In addition to this whether it is his “Arundhati” (Telugu – Tollywood Blockbuster) villain portrayal or other such south movies, he also has some traction in South Indian Movies and hence South of India as well (usually not a easy feat for a character artiste to achieve). Hence, Sonu Sood as brand ambassador represents trust, empathy, style, fitness and a pan-national appeal. But with the masses. Hence categories he can be used as a brand ambassador for are possibly: Agri-Fintech, Micro-Finance, Health Foods, Sports and Fitness Categories, Fashion category etc; But at a mass and masstige segments level.” Keeping these attributes in mind, Challapalli said that he can endorse brands in mass and masstige categories. “He can also represent “return to roots” desi culture brands across consumer segments. As a brand ambassador he can take “Ayurvedic or Indian natural products based health - Immunity” to both the higher economic strata consumers and the lower economic strata consumers. He can also be a good brand ambassador for democratisation of Insurance, or home loans, or even mutual funds to the masses and to ‘Bharat’,” said Challapalli. Sonu Sood’s social currency Harish Bijoor, Brand-Strategy expert and Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc pointed out that the audience on social media is looking for real heroes now. Bijoor said, “Sonu Sood is the new hero. The new hero of a new generation that is driven more by social media accolades than traditional media praise. Social media seems to recognise the real star as opposed to the promoted star. This works for Sonu Sood. He and his image is pushed by an army of social media participants who chase the real as opposed to the made up.” Sood has 7.3 million followers on Instagram and 4.1 on Twitter. He became the talk of the town during the lockdown. As a result, his popularity on Google Search also peaked. The top searched topics included Sonu Sood Help, Sonu Sood Scholarship, <keyword id="10031923" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sonu-sood-helpline">Sonu Sood Helpline</keyword>, Sonu Sood hotel juhu, <keyword id="10031921" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sonu-sood-net-worth">Sonu Sood net worth</keyword> 2020. <div type="image" title="sonu sood google trends" msid="78414547" hostid="261"></div> During the period of January to September 2020, Sood was the most searched term in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttrakhand, Telegana respectively. <div type="image" title="india-map" msid="78414550" hostid="261"></div>(Values are calculated on a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 is the location with the most popularity as a fraction of total searches in that location, a value of 50 indicates a location which is half as popular.) Sood’s impact on brand’s social image How will getting someone like Sonu Sood, who is a humanitarian influence, help how people look at a brand? Archana Jain, Founder and MD, PR Pundit, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a deep impact on consumers. Consumer attitudes are changing. New socio-economic behavioural patterns are being witnessed. Global discourse centered around purpose and ethics is taking centre stage and scoring high on relevance in an increasingly values-driven world. An association with Sonu Sood therefore helps brands raise their bar on trust and dependability. Brands are able to foster a meaningful connection with the informed and empowered consumers and attach themselves to the value proposition of humaneness (demonstrated by his philanthropic work).” On how brands are looking for rays of hope in unsung heroes, Jain added, “Universally, people seek heroes in times of distress. With the heightened interest around all-things COVID-19, many brands have been shining the spotlight on heroes who have contributed selflessly for the betterment of society. Some have singled out the unsung warriors and some acknowledged personalities. Sonu Sood will always be remembered as the knight in shining armour who came to save thousands in need in their bleak times.” N Chandramouli, CEO, TRA Research said, “When someone achieves popularity by the work done, a reputation builds around the person - which is transmitted beliefs about respect. This transmitted belief spreads as more many hear about the person, also driving the person to try and achieve greater heights. Brands are self-centered in their approach, and naturally do not take Sonu Sood as an ambassador because of their philanthropic nature, but instead so that his 'goodness' rubs on them too. He has already been seen as a 'messiah', and even non-migrant travel or food based requests come to him, sometimes for books for education or to help a poor farmer's family. Since he has been open and accessible to most such requests, he has become an icon for the poor and needy. This is suff is like a movie-story, and he, the hero who is a do-gooder for society. Brands may not use him in PR too directly, primarily because it will not be appropriate to be seen directly promoting a brand by talking about it. Instead, advertising is slightly more distanced from PR, and therefore his presence as a brand's ambassador, is something that will look more appropriate. PR, as we often say, is essentially a trust building tool, and for Sonu, he has already built all the trust by demonstrating firmness of action.” Will recognition from UNDP help get Sonu Sood more brand deals now? Chandramouli said that Sonu Sood will be now known internationally, which might help him get more brand recognition. He said, “With UNDP's award he joins an exclusive group of international actors in different UN awards who have contributed to society beyond their call of duty, and his name will become more global. He will also come in the consideration sets of international brands which are looking at India as one of their key markets. Being a household name in India, brands will be able to reach their consumers through his endorsements.” Challapalli said that Sonu Sood will get more brands now. However, he is more likely to be approached by massy brands than aspirational.

As Sonu Sood wins a UNDP award, will we see a jump in his brand value?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Two new studies found that sports betting has taken a toll on some Americans' finances.</li><li>Sports betting was tied to lower credit scores and less investing in assets like stocks.</li></ul>Football season is right around the corner — when millions of Americans will bet on everything from who will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/super-bowl-prop-bets-travis-kelce-taylor-swift-engagement-2024-2">win the Super Bowl</a> in February to how many passing touchdowns Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will throw during his rookie season.For the majority of gamblers in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.actionnetwork.com/news/legal-sports-betting-united-states-projections">38 states</a> plus DC, where <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sports-gambling-sportsbook-wall-street-betting-hedging-2024-5">sports betting</a> is legal through a combination of retail and online sportsbooks, their wagers are likely to have a modest impact on their finances — most people <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sports-betting-fanduel-draftkings-advice-super-bowl-common-mistakes-2024-2">don't get rich</a> betting on sports. Meanwhile, many bettors will chalk up their gambling losses as worthwhile entertainment expenses.However, some gamblers could end up regretting more than their losing bets. That's because there's growing evidence that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rising-stars-sports-betting-and-gaming-at-draftkings-fanduel-more-2024-6">sports gambling</a> is taking a toll on some Americans' finances.A <a target="_blank" href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4903302">working paper</a> published in August by University of Southern California and University of California Los Angeles researchers found that sports gambling is "harming consumer financial health." In the 30 states with just legal online sports gambling, the average credit score declined by about 1% roughly four years after legalization, and bankruptcy likelihood increased by 28% after about two years. The analysis was based on financial information of roughly 7 million US adults, which was provided by the University of California Consumer Credit Panel."We find broad evidence that legal sports betting, and in particular mobile/online access to betting, has led to significant increases in problematic debt activity and a worsening of consumer financial health," Brett Hollenbeck, one of the paper's authors, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/econominable/status/1816217781416718534?utm_campaign=mb&amp;utm_medium=newsletter&amp;utm_source=morning_brew">wrote</a> on X.Another <a target="_blank" href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4881086">working paper</a>, published in July by Northwestern University, the University of Kansas, and Brigham Young University researchers, found that for every $1 a person bet on sports, it <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-investing-impact-legal-sport-betting-gambling-study-2024-8">reduced their net investment</a> in financial instruments like stocks by roughly $2 on average. Net investments in a state typically fell about 14% in the two to three years after sports betting was legalized, and among some households, sports betting was associated with rising credit card balances and overdraft payments. The analysis was based on a dataset of billions of US consumer transactions between 2010 and 2023, which was provided by a data aggregation and analytics platform."Our results show that not only does sports betting lead to increased betting activity, but it also leads to higher credit card balances, less available credit, a reduction in net investments, and an increase in lottery play," the researchers wrote.In recent years, the widespread legalization of sports betting has convinced many Americans to get in on the action. The total amount wagered on sports in the US rose to $14 billion in January 2024 from about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sportsbookreview.com/news/us-betting-revenue-tracker/">$1 billion</a> in January 2019, and a Seton Hall University <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.shu.edu/business/news/sports-poll-finds-slowed-growth-for-sports-betting.html">poll</a> of 1,523 US adults conducted in February found that 37% of Americans had bet on a sporting event, up from 34% in 2023 and 28% in 2022.While the industry has boosted states' tax revenues, created jobs, made some people a lot of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2024/03/21/online-mobile-sports-betting-apps">money</a>, and entertained millions, some experts have raised concerns about the financial impact sports betting losses could have on some Americans — and questioned whether the benefits of the industry <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/14/sportsbooks-sports-gambling-prop-bets-state-tax-jontay-porter/">outweigh</a> the potential costs.<h2 id="8c71879a-9975-433e-bb12-31aef60d06bc">Sports betting can lead to addiction and harm low-income Americans</h2>When sports betting becomes a problem for one's finances, gambling addiction tends to be one of the main culprits. A Siena College <a target="_blank" href="https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ASFS_Release-2_-Online-Sports-Betting.pdf">poll</a> of over 3,000 Americans conducted in January found that 15% of respondents knew someone who has or had a problem with online sports betting. Among those who had placed bets with an online sportsbook, 18% said they'd had trouble meeting a "financial obligation" due to a gambling loss."We believe, nationwide, the rate and severity of gambling problems have increased across the United States since 2018," Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/gambling-addiction-hotline-calls-online-sports-betting-rcna145539">told</a> CNBC in April. In 2018, the Supreme Court <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/states-where-sports-betting-legal-usa-2019-7">lifted the federal ban</a> on sports betting, clearing the way for its legalization across the country.Online sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings provide bettors with responsible gaming <a target="_blank" href="https://www.draftkings.com/about/responsible-gaming/?wpsrc=Organic%20Search&amp;wpaffn=Google&amp;wpkw=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.draftkings.com%2Fabout%2Fresponsible-gaming%2F&amp;wpcn=about&amp;wpscn=responsible-gaming%2F">resources and tools</a>, including information on where they can <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fanduel.com/responsible-play/about">seek help</a> in their state. Many platforms also allow bettors to place <a target="_blank" href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/help/responsible-gaming?wpsrc=Organic%20Search&amp;wpaffn=Google&amp;wpkw=https%3A%2F%2Fsportsbook.draftkings.com%2Fhelp%2Fresponsible-gaming&amp;wpcn=help&amp;wpscn=responsible-gaming">restrictions</a> on their deposits, wages, and time spent on the platform.However, some experts believe significant risks remain."Here's a product that we know is addictive," Timothy Fong, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sports-betting-addiction-warns-bettors-lose-money-march-madness-2023-3">previously told Business Insider</a> regarding sports betting. "Here's an American appetite for that product. And then you combine the forces of a very powerful and effective industry combined with technology. This is where potentially it could go really bad."When sports betting leads to financial challenges, it tends to be low-income Americans who are the most impacted.The USC and UCLA analysis found that young men, particularly those based in low-income counties, were the most likely to see their financial health deteriorate due to online sports betting. Additionally, the Northwestern, Kansas, and BYU researchers found that "financially constrained households" with less savings were more likely to "divert funds from their investment portfolios to betting activity."Gambling has long had a disproportionately negative impact on the finances of lower-income Americans. An <a target="_blank" href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2024/04/02/the-economics-of-american-lotteries">analysis</a> from The Economist published in April found that in the poorest 1% of US zip codes, the average adult spends nearly 5% of their annual income on lottery tickets — or around $600 a year. The richest 1% of zip codes spent 0.15% of their incomes on average, or $150 a year.The impact of gambling on people's finances isn't the only reason the sports betting boom has received mixed feedback in recent years.For example, some sportsbooks haven't <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/01/17/sports-bets-errors-payouts/">paid out</a> winning customers because of errors in their betting odds, which they said gave bettors an unintended advantage. Others have placed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/11/17/betting-limits-draft-kings-betmgm-caesars-circa/">significant limits</a> on how much money some of their most successful bettors can wager. While these developments have frustrated some gamblers, these sportsbooks generally haven't violated any laws or regulations.Additionally, while sports betting has generated millions of dollars in tax revenues, the proceeds have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/sports-betting-arizona-revenue">fallen short</a> of expectations in some states — and not everyone thinks the tax dollars have been wisely spent. In Arkansas, roughly 18% of tax proceeds go to "horse breeding awards and racing purses," according to a Bloomberg <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://news.bloombergtax.com/financial-accounting/states-spend-money-from-sports-betting-in-strange-places">analysis</a>. Between the second quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of this year, less than 2% of US sports betting tax dollars went to problem gambling programs.In the years ahead, the sports betting industry could see some changes, including <a target="_blank" href="https://frontofficesports.com/more-states-hiking-sports-betting-taxes-eyeing-revenue-windfall/">higher taxes</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=710b8e78807ba9d19695e87cd1d217595594ee44e28274a9241dd581a1d0d883&amp;postID=66c39a24b9a36536265541f4&amp;postSlug=sports-betting-legalization-hurts-americans-finances-credit-score-investing-stocks-2024-8&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fespn%2Fbetting%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F39766929%2Fcongressman-paul-tonko-introduce-legislation-aimed-sports-betting-marketing-tactics">increased regulation</a> of its marketing practices to minimize the risk of problem gambling. The former could boost states' tax coffers but potentially lead to fewer <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/espn-bet-sports-betting-penn-entertainment-disney-deal-barstool-sportsbook-2024-5">promotions</a> and less favorable odds for bettors, sportsbooks say.For industry executives, arguably the biggest change would come if <a target="_blank" href="https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-03-29/shohei-ohtani-california-sports-betting-gambling-dodgers">California</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kwtx.com/2024/02/09/sports-gambling-texas-approaching-super-bowl-weekend/">Texas</a> — the two most populous states in the nation — legalized sports betting. Despite these states' <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-california-texas-conservative-affordable-realtor-helps-others-2023-8">political differences</a>, a variety of factors have prevented many of their lawmakers and citizens from getting on board, and it remains unclear when — or if — legalization will happen.Regardless of how it plays out, the US sports betting boom — and efforts to evaluate its impact on society — appear to be in the early innings.If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, call the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/national-helpline-1-800-522-4700/">National Council on Problem Gambling Helpline</a> (1-800-522-4700), which provides resources and referrals for all 50 states, Canada, and the US Virgin Islands. Help is available 24/7 and is 100% confidential.Are you a sports bettor willing to share your story? If so, reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:jzinkula@businessinsider.com">jzinkula@businessinsider.com</a>.

Sports gambling is taking a toll on Americans' finances

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Half of tech executives reported heavy drinking in a new survey. 45% reported using painkillers.</li><li>Layoffs, long hours, and stress have some executives turning to substances to cope, the survey said.</li></ul>Many people go into tech wanting to work in a fast-paced, innovative field, and holding a senior position or C-suite title may seem like an enviable position. But Silicon Valley and the tech industry has hit choppy waters recently, with a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/layoffs-sweeping-the-us-these-are-the-companies-making-cuts-2023">long list of layoffs</a> and executives talking about battening down of the hatches amid concerns of an economic downturn.Meanwhile, recent research suggests that many leaders working in tech are turning to alcohol and substances to cope with the high stress and uncertainty of their jobs. All Points North, an addiction treatment center in Colorado, published a report examining the findings of a <a href="https://apn.com/2023-report-substance-use-among-the-tech-field/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survey conducted by Censuswide</a> among 501 tech executives working in firms with over 1,000 employees. The survey, titled "2023 Mental Health in Tech Report," was taken between April 27, 2023 and May 15, 2023. The results showed high rates of heavy alcohol use or alcohol use disorder, substance use and misuse, and poor mental health among tech executives.Many tech leaders also reported being worried about the future of their careers — and whether or not they will have a job. Layoffs and the rise of artificial intelligence make some executives feel insecure in their positions, according to the survey. APN's report showed 77% of executives saying that layoffs have negatively impacted their mental health, and 74% worry that improvements in AI will render their positions obsolete. Along with long-term fears of job loss, some tech executives reported struggling day to day. Long hours and high stress levels cause executives to turn to substance use. 45% of executives surveyed reported using painkillers like Codeine, Oxytocin, and Vicodin, according to the survey. The use of stimulants and sleeping pills is also common, at 34% and 35% respectively, according to the report's findings.<div type="image" title="The survey shows that 45% of tech executives use pain killers to cope with long work and perform better hours." height="1098" width="1550" msid="101579126" hostid="261" sizebytes="75890"></div>Along with controlled substances, heavy alcohol use was reported by tech executives. Half of APN's respondents self-identified as heavy drinkers, or those that consume between three and seven alcoholic drinks a day. 51% of respondents report smoking cigarettes or nicotine vapes within the last three months. During the pandemic, CEOs saw high turnover rates due to burnout, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ceos-burning-out-joining-great-reshuffle-2021-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insider</a> reported in July 2022. During the first quarter of 2022, CEO turnover rose to 29%. This high rate has continued into 2023. According to APN's report, 1 in 3 C-suite level tech executives say they are looking for new jobs.If you are struggling with substance use disorder, help is available. Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national helpline</a> at 1-800-662-4357 for free, confidential help.

Tech execs are stressed out. Half are heavy drinkers and 45% take painkillers, a new study says.

<ul><li>One of the main reasons behind the cabbies asking riders to cancel rides is high commissions charged by the cab aggregators.</li><li>As per <keyword id="14159814" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jobsgaar" source="Orion">Jobsgaar</keyword> report, the average monthly earnings of <keyword id="6404423" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cab-drivers" source="Orion">cab drivers</keyword> have dropped at least by ₹4,400.</li><li>The added charges are making cab drivers resort to other means to increase prices — like charging extra for turning on the AC.</li></ul>The next time you book an <keyword id="1042120" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uber" source="Orion">Uber</keyword> or an <keyword id="6354720" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ola" source="Orion">Ola</keyword> and the driver cancels the rides and charges a cancellation fee, don’t blame just the driver. The cab aggregators too have a part to play in this. The cab drivers have to pay at least 25-30% of their earnings as commissions to the aggregators. This is one of the main reasons behind the cabbies asking riders to cancel rides - which is burdening the consumers with extra fees. “The cab companies are currently failing to bridge this expectation versus reality issues with the cab drivers causing a lot of trip cancellations and baffling the end-users,” said a report by Jobsgaar, shared exclusively with Business Insider India. These commissions come in addition to the skyrocketing fuel prices, which is already hitting their margins. As per the report, the average monthly earnings of cab drivers have dropped at least by ₹4,400. The expected average monthly earning of cab drivers was ₹22,000, which reduced to ₹17,600. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="As complaints rise, authorities step in" comment="subhead" text="As complaints rise, authorities step in">As complaints rise, authorities step in</cmsannotation> The added charges are making cab drivers resort to other means to increase prices — like charging extra for turning on the AC. Currently, the average fare is less than ₹12-13 per km, however, the drivers are asking at least ₹24-25 per km for turning on the AC, as it adds extra fuel cost. <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/last-minute-cancellation-late-pick-up-among-worst-experiences-on-ride-hailing-apps-survey/articleshow/91690261.cms">Another survey</a>, cited by the Times of India, revealed that over 88% of the riders have been forced to cancel the rides by the drivers, while 46% of the respondents said that the drivers asked them to pay extra for the air conditioner in the car. As per the data from the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), 2482 grievances were registered by consumers against Ola,and 770 grievances were registered against Uber between April 1, 2021, to May 1, 2022. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) called out the cab aggregators Uber and Ola seeking details about their policies after the complaints. “We have received several complaints from consumers regarding the cancellation and pricing policy of cab aggregators. The number of complaints are very high and therefore we have called the cab aggregators for explanation of their policies,” CCPA told PTI in an interview. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="There are new policies" comment="subhead" text="There are new policies">There are new policies</cmsannotation> Both Uber and Ola have introduced new policies to protect their drivers. Uber has claimed that they have raised fares to cushion drivers from the impact of rising fuel prices. “We are now showing trip destinations to drivers before they decide to accept the ride. Drivers who meet a predefined trip acceptance threshold will be eligible to get the destination information so that they can make an informed choice,” said <keyword id="14159813" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nitin-bhushan" source="Orion">Nitin Bhushan</keyword>, Uber India head in a statement. Uber also introduced a daily pay process for drivers and is showing earnings for long pickups on the fare receipt on its driver portal. “For the past several months Ola drivers have been able to see the ride destination and also mode of payment before accepting bookings” said <keyword id="1543567" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="bhavish-aggarwal" source="Orion">Bhavish Aggarwal</keyword>, co-founder of Ola. However, they made no statements on the commissions that they are charging. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/government-invites-vpn-service-providers-for-discussions-after-expressvpn-and-surfshark-shut-down-servers-in-india/articleshow/92119411.cms">Government invites VPN service providers for discussions after ExpressVPN and Surfshark shut down servers in India</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indian-central-banks-rate-hikes-leaves-the-real-estate-sector-jittery/articleshow/92113997.cms">Indian central bank’s rate hikes leaves the real estate sector jittery</a>

Don’t blame only cabbies for ride cancellations, their earnings shrunk too

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (<keyword id="164129" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="FINRA">FINRA</keyword>) oversees US-based broker-dealer firms, registered brokers, and market dealings.</li><li>Brokers must be registered with FINRA in order to trade securities with the public.</li><li>FINRA plays a big role in market security by watching for manipulation or fraud.</li></ul>Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is a private organization authorized by the US government to enforce ethical investment practices among registered brokers. FINRA is largely known for regulation and registration of brokers and brokerage firms.In reality, FINRA casts a much wider net of responsibility. The organization also monitors daily market functions, handles customer complaints, and maintains a library of educational materials for investors. "Our whole mission is investor protection and market integrity," says Gerri Walsh, senior vice president of Investor Education at FINRA.Learn more about how FINRA protects everyday investors, maintains market integrity, and why its job is so important. <h2>What is FINRA? </h2>FINRA is a self-regulatory organization (SRO) that oversees broker-dealer firms, registered brokers, and market dealings in the US. Empowered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FINRA writes rules that brokers must abide by, evaluates firms' compliance with those rules, and disciplines brokers that fail to adhere. In order to trade securities with the public, brokers must be registered with FINRA, which administers a rigorous application and examination process. FINRA's online BrokerCheck tool shows whether a broker is registered with the organization.FINRA also provides <a href="https://www.finra.org/investors/learn-to-invest" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">educational resources</a> and a space for investors to <a href="https://www.finra.org/investors/have-problem/file-complaint/complaint-center" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">file complaints</a> about brokers. <h2>Understanding FINRA</h2>FINRA exists to help the SEC regulate aspects of the securities business, namely brokers and their relationships with consumers. "<keyword id="35175" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="investing">Investing</keyword> is an important part of people's hard-earned money," said Harris Kay, a managing partner with Murphy &amp; McGonigle, a law firm specializing in securities law. "They deserve to be in a place that follows the rules."Quick tip: Check whether your broker or brokerage firm has been following the rules with FINRA's <a href="https://brokercheck.finra.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">BrokerCheck tool</a>.FINRA's services can be divided into a few different, but connected, duties.<ol><li>Regulate and oversee brokers. Once registered with FINRA, brokers must complete ongoing education requirements over the years. Brokers are subject to periodic audits, which checks whether a firm and its employees are conducting competent and honest business. If a broker is found to be noncompliant, FINRA can bring disciplinary actions against the individual and/or the firm.</li><li>Maintain its BrokerCheck database on brokers and firms. You can use <a href="https://brokercheck.finra.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">FINRA's BrokerCheck tool</a> to check whether a broker is registered. BrokerCheck also provides background information on a broker or firm, including any history of disciplinary action.</li><li>Receive and address customer complaints. When you have an issue with your broker or brokerage firm, you can turn to FINRA to file a complaint, which FINRA will then investigate.</li><li>Provide dispute resolution services. When customer complaints evolve into legal action, FINRA provides a forum and lawyers for arbitration and mediation between customers and brokers as an alternative to going to court.</li><li>Offer resources and tools for investors. FINRA has a wealth of personal <keyword id="25455" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="finance">finance</keyword> and investing articles and calculators available to beginner and advanced investors alike. It even offers free online investing courses. You can give FINRA a toll-free call, to get help in understanding your investments whether you don't understand something in your statements or you want to know more about a hard sell your broker is trying to make. There's even a specialty helpline for senior citizens.</li><li>Surveille equity markets. FINRA's technology department plays a strong role in maintaining market integrity by monitoring market transactions and orders every day. Through algorithms and artificial intelligence, FINRA looks for any patterns or signs of market manipulation or fraud. If anything is found, it gets flagged to FINRA's enforcement team, or sent to other relevant parties like the SEC or the securities exchange itself.</li></ol>Quick tip: Bringing your complaint about a broker to arbitration or mediation can be a more cost-effective method than going to court. While there is a fee for the service, FINRA will provide you with a choice of arbitrators and walk you through the process.With such a wide responsibility, FINRA is split into 11 departments, including: <ul><li>Board and External Relations includes Investor Education, Government Affairs, and Communications departments.</li><li>Enforcement takes care of FINRA'S disciplinary actions against brokers.</li><li>Legal oversees FINRA's rulemaking and corporate legal functions, and includes Corporate Financing and Dispute Resolution departments.</li><li>Member Supervision watches over and examines member firms.</li><li>Market Regulation Transparency Services works with the SEC and exchanges to surveille markets and examine firms to identify any potential market manipulation or fraud. This department also checks that firms remain compliant to federal securities laws. </li><li>Office of Hearing Officers provides impartial adjudicators to preside over the disciplinary actions brought forward by the Enforcement Department.</li><li>Technology touches all aspects of technology at FINRA, including the algorithms that surveille markets.</li></ul><h2>History of FINRA</h2><ul><li>1934: In response to the stock market crash of 1929, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 established the SEC to protect against another such crisis. </li><li>1938: The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD) is created under the Maloney Act amendments to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a private regulatory body.</li><li>2007: The SEC approves the NYSE and NASD merger, creating a new agency, FINRA.</li></ul><h2>FINRA vs. SEC</h2><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td>FINRA</td><td>SEC</td></tr><tr><td>Type</td><td>Private self-regulatory organization</td><td>Government agency</td></tr><tr><td>Main Focus</td><td>Regulation of brokerage firms and brokers</td><td>Regulate individual securities &amp; markets</td></tr><tr><td>Other Duties</td><td>Administer examinations and registration to brokers and brokerage firms</td><td>Take legal action against violations of securities laws </td></tr><tr><td>Public Protection</td><td>Field and address customer complaintsProvide arbitration forum</td><td>Ensures accuracy of information regarding publicly available securities</td></tr></tbody></table>Due to the magnitude of the securities trading industry, the SEC delegated the regulation of brokers to FINRA as a matter of efficiency. By outsourcing one side of the business, the SEC can maintain better oversight.One way to see it is that FINRA primarily deals with the human aspect of investing, focusing on the way brokers do business with the public. It ensures that brokers are up to code with its registration process and audits, and assists the public by receiving complaints and offering an arbitration forum. Meanwhile, the SEC focuses on the bigger picture. The SEC is able to regulate and keep an eye on securities. The SEC also verifies that companies are providing accurate and total information on their publicly available securities, whether on exchanges or over-the-counter. If someone is found in violation of securities laws, the SEC can bring action against them in federal court. Still, FINRA and the SEC work together in examining broker practices, sharing market surveillance information, and teaming up on enforcement actions. <h2>The financial takeaway</h2>While it may seem like a background player compared to big name and trendy brokerage firms, FINRA should be investors main resource when it comes to securities and investment safety. FINRA is a great and important resource for anyone who participates in securities markets. It provides a ton of resources, including BrokerCheck, to help investors make smart investment decisions. It also puts brokers and firms through a rigorous registration process to ensure only qualified entities are interacting with the public when it comes to securities.FINRA can even serve as your personal secondary gut check with its toll-free helpline whenever you need help understanding the investment world.<a data-type="60e75ecd2311693ddc791744">What is the FDIC?</a><a data-type="5fd93432fe994d5b3d41b635">What is the Nasdaq? Understanding the global stock exchange that's home to the fastest-growing, most innovative companies</a><a data-type="60149b639614fd439e525cd9">The S&amp;P 500 is seen as a gauge of the stock market itself - here's how this widely watched stock index works</a><a data-type="60899ec30c26757349169f4d">What is the New York Stock Exchange? Understanding the biggest marketplace for investors in the world</a>

FINRA: The organization that regulates broker-dealers and protects investors

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Four nonprofessional investors told Insider TerraUSD's crash in May made them think of self-harm.</li><li>It's unclear how many investors were impacted, but the crash wiped out around <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-19/luna-terra-collapse-reveal-crypto-price-volatility">$60 billion.</a></li></ul>Yuri Popovich thought about harming himself when he saw his life savings evaporating over three weeks in May.His life savings of about $10,500 was stored in the form of a <keyword id="11892695" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cryptocurrency" source="Orion">cryptocurrency</keyword> called TerraUSD, or UST, Popovich told Insider last week. He said he invested in the token in late April because it was marketed as a "stablecoin" pegged to the US dollar. But in early May, the token started to <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/terra-peg-dollar-luna-stablecoin-crypto-and-stokes-fears-bitcoin-2022-5">unravel</a>. By the end of the month, it was hovering at about $0.01. Popovich's life savings dwindled to about $106 as of Friday, based on Insider's <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/price/terrausd/">calculations</a>. Within a few days of the crash, Popovich, 32, started feeling desperate. Popovich said he did not dare to tell his wife because she contributed to his savings. He was sleeping only two or four hours a night, and thought about harming himself."I felt like I was in a vacuum… I did not see the future because the loss was too great for me," he said.Popovich said his anxiety has since waned, but he was surprised by his suicidal thoughts. After all, he had been dealing with great uncertainty and stress over the past eight years. In 2014, Popovich said he lost his apartment in Donetsk after Kremlin-backed separatists overtook the city in eastern Ukraine. He then lost his job, and in February, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-russia-is-attacking-ukraine-putin-justification-for-invasion-2022-2">Russia invaded Ukraine</a>. "Considering all the hardships, including the loss of everything in 2014 during the war in Donetsk, then the war that is now going on, the situation with TerraUSD unsettled me the most," Popovich said.Popovich wasn't the only TerraUSD investor who felt defeated by the token's crash.In interviews with Insider, nonprofessional investors told similar stories of how they were drawn to TerraUSD's promise of preserving monetary value. They also shared how, upon learning that the coin's value had plunged to almost nothing, they fell into despair and thought about harming themselves.<div type="image" title="Yuri Popovich" height="1135" width="1514" msid="92126276" hostid="261"></div><h2>TerraUSD and Luna's crash wiped out a market that once peaked at $60 billion</h2>Most stablecoins are backed by real-world assets, but TerraUSD used an algorithm to determine its value. Through a see-saw relationship, a sister token called Luna kept TerraUSD's price in check. Whenever TerraUSD's price fell, investors could buy the coin to convert it into Luna. The purchase would shrink TerraUSD's supply and push its value back to $1. If TerraUSD rose above its pegged value, a reverse process would bring its price down. Some critics pointed out a fatal flaw in the system: if investors lost confidence in TerraUSD's ability to maintain the peg, the two tokens could come crashing down, per <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-15/luna-crash-this-crypto-insider-warned-of-terra-ust-s-collapse#xj4y7vzkg">Bloomberg</a>. On May 7, TerraUSD lost its peg. Anxious investors rushed to dump their TerraUSD holdings and the token cratered, bringing Luna down with it. By late May, the tokens were almost worthless. Their crash wiped out a combined market value that was once <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-19/luna-terra-collapse-reveal-crypto-price-volatility">$60 billion</a> at its peak. On May 25, TerraUSD's creators decided to switch off the network that issued the token, effectively <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-25/do-kwon-wins-backing-for-his-proposal-to-rescue-terra-project">killing TerraUSD off</a> in the process. Experts are still trying to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/search-continues-for-source-of-terrausd-crypto-bank-run-11654348117">determine</a> what caused TerraUSD's depegging, but the damage was done. Popovich's life savings evaporated during this time. He said that his losses amounted to about two to three years' worth of salary. In China, Wan Yu has been battling a malignant tumor that spread from his stomach to his liver for the past two years, he told Insider last week. He said he recently had to cut down on his working hours to undergo several rounds of treatments. Wan, who lives in the southwestern city of Chengdu, said he needed to find a stable source of income for future medical treatments. So when he read an article on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220413000030/https://blog.binance.us/all-about-terrausd-ust/">Binance</a> about TerraUSD, he decided to invest $90,000 into the token, he said. Wan said the next time he checked his account in late May, TerraUSD's value had plunged to about $0.03. "I instantly felt like my soul dissociated from my body," he told Insider in Mandarin.Wan said he thought about killing himself because the shame and stress were too much to bear. Wan said he feels better now, but he still hasn't told his wife or anyone else about the loss."You're the first to know," he told Insider.In Tehran, Iran's capital, Farzam Fallah told Insider a similar story. The 32-year-old salesperson said US sanctions on his country meant that it was hard for him to invest in foreign assets. He turned to TerraUSD, because crypto exchange OKX offered high returns for depositing the token with them. Moreover, converting his money into TerraUSD meant that he effectively could trade with US dollars.In January, Farzam said he converted his life savings of about $13,000 into the token. A large part of that sum was actually inherited from his father after he passed away, Farzam said. After the token's meltdown, Farzam said he felt like harming himself. "I had nothing to lose anymore. $13,000 was all I had in my life, all my life savings," he said.Similarly, German expatriate Christian, who lives in Thailand, told Insider he put about $71,000 into TerraUSD earlier this year, hoping to make some money from the higher yields. He said he became "suicidal and completely depressed" after losing almost all of it. Christian, 39, did not want to reveal his full name so as to protect his identity.It's unclear how many amateur investors suffered in the crash. Suicide-prevention and counseling organizations in the US, Singapore, and the UK were unable to tell Insider how many calls they received in May were related to the crash.However, the organizations all noted that huge financial stresses can worsen mental health. "The causes of mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts, are complex and determined by many different factors or a combination of factors. Certainly suffering huge financial loss can be one of those factors. It's important for people to remember that help is available," Dani Bennett, a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) spokesperson, told Insider. SAMHSA provides support for the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.The crash prompted a Reddit user to share on May 12 a list of <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/terraluna/comments/un57df/for_everyone_panicking_here_are_some_national/">suicide-prevention helplines</a> around the world so that those who were "panicking" could call for help. "Here, I like to emphasize again, don't invest money you need to survive/live the next weeks/months/even a year. Don't invest in the hopes of having more next month," the post read.<div type="image" title="Crypto mining" height="5772" width="7697" msid="92126278" hostid="261"></div><h2>Investors and experts are still trying to find out what led to the crash</h2>Investors and experts are still trying to uncover what factors led to the crash. However, they're unlikely to find answers from regulators as of now. The cryptocurrency ecosystem was built on the principle of decentralization, and so it remains relatively unregulated. Crypto firms have actively <a href="https://time.com/nextadvisor/investing/cryptocurrency/why-crypto-regulation-is-good-for-investors/">resisted</a> any form of policing. "The onus then falls on investors to do their due diligence. A better solution would be to impart the basic universal skills that allow a retail investor to manage the risks," Spencer Li, managing director at Synapse Trading in Singapore, told Insider. This lack of policing may be changing in the US, however. On Tuesday, senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Cynthia Lummis introduced a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/07/bipartisan-crypto-bill-lummis-and-gillibrand-want-to-empower-cftc-treat-digitals-assets-like-commodities.html">bipartisan bill</a> that would give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission authority to regulate cryptocurrencies."As a former regulator, there is a lot of work going on in this space that will impact consumer/investor protection, financial stability, and the broader economy. These digital assets should flourish and see wider adoption with the right regulations in place," David Cass, who was involved in supervising cyber and IT risks at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, told Insider. He is now managing director at crypto trading firm GSR.Some retail investors are claiming trading platforms took part in predatory marketing or unsavory practices that resulted in their losses. Popovich and Wan told Insider they were lured by Binance's offer that allowed anyone who deposited UST with them with <a href="https://www.binance.com/en/support/announcement/26d2615fa70a4253a8c240f16248dfdd">yields of almost 20%</a>. "It's the largest exchange, so I thought I could trust whatever it said," said Wan.Another platform, Stablegains, invested users' deposits into TerraUSD without their knowledge, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/terra-luna-cryptocurrency-crash-stablegains-2022-6">Insider</a> reported on Thursday. Some 4,500 customers lost a total of $40 million after the meltdown.Retail investors are trying to find ways to reclaim their losses. All four who spoke to Insider said they were prepared to take legal action if necessary. "I hope to get some money back with the class action even if it takes a few years. There is still a tiny chance of compensation for UST holders," Christian said.For now, investors are finding strength and courage from the kindness of others to help them move on from the episode. After <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/may/22/ukrainian-man-loses-life-savings-in-stablecoin-crypto-slump">The Guardian</a> and <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/ukrainian-put-10500-life-savings-into-crypto-then-it-crashed-2022-5">Insider</a> first reported about Popovich's predicament two weeks ago, Popovich said strangers started reaching out to him with donations. "The first time I truly managed to sleep was a few days ago when they started donating to me. I then realized that there is a chance to get out," he said. With newfound hope, Popovich said he found the courage to tell his wife about the loss."I promised that everything will be fine, and I will fight to the end for compensation," he said. "We love each other, so she believed and supported me. I am ready for a lot of justice."If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or has had thoughts of harming themselves or taking their own life, get help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as best practices for professionals and resources to aid in prevention and crisis situations.

Some crypto investors say TerraUSD and Luna's $60 billion crash pushed them to the brink and led to thoughts of self-harm

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A person can survive weeks without food depending on their body composition, environment, and sex.</li><li>Meanwhile, the human body can only survive two to four days without water. </li><li>Starvation is extremely dangerous and causes organ failure, which will prove fatal unless treated.</li></ul>The human body can survive weeks without food, but most people can only survive 2 to 4 days without water. There are no controlled scientific studies on how long people can survive without food or water, since that would be <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20069776/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unethical</a>. That's why most <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20069776/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a> in this area involves case studies of people in emergency survival situations. For example, an imprisoned Austrian man went <a href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/67607-longest-survival-without-food-and-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">18 days</a> without food or water - the longest in recorded history - after being forgotten in his cell. However, if you're deliberately severely restricting food and water either to try and lose weight or for a hunger strike, it's important to know about the serious damage this can wreak on your body.Important: If you have a history of disordered eating, this article may be triggering. Moreover, if you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, contact the <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/">National Eating Disorders Association</a> (NEDA) helpline at 1-800-931-2237.<h2>How long can you go without food?</h2>People can generally go weeks without food, says <a href="https://www.memorialcare.org/providers/mir-b-ali" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mir Ali</a>, MD, a bariatric surgeon and the medical director of <a href="https://www.memorialcare.org/services/weight-loss-surgery/memorialcare-surgical-weight-loss-center" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center</a>. How long you can survive without food depends on a variety of factors including your sex, body composition, the last thing you ate and drank, and your environment, says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-paul-md-86314863/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andrea Paul</a>, MD, co-founder of <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">Health</keyword> Media Experts, a consulting service for healthcare companies.For example, people with more fat reserves may survive longer since the body can burn stored fat for fuel in times of extreme hunger, says Ali. Moreover, if a person has access to water, but no food, they may be able to survive for up to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20069776/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two months</a>.<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2127586/pdf/9353494.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In fact, research</a> on hunger strikes and voluntary <keyword id="11977811" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fasting" source="Orion">fasting</keyword> examined cases where people had water, but no food. In three cases, people went for 28, 36, and 38 days without food, before becoming too sick to continue their strikes. In other cases, those on hunger strikes died after 45 to 61 days without food. In general, healthy, lean individuals experience severe effects of starvation when they lose <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2127586/pdf/9353494.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">18%</a> of their body weight or reach a body mass index of less than 16.5, which is considered <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541070/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">severely underweight</a>. In general, <a href="https://eurekamag.com/research/003/580/003580959.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women can withstand starvation longer</a> than men and survive at a lower BMI. This may be due to the fact women naturally have a higher body fat percentage, but also that their bodies tend to use fat rather than lean muscle for energy during periods of starvation. <h2>How starvation affects the body </h2>When you are deprived of food, your body goes through <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22414/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stages of starvation</a> because you're no longer consuming the calories you need to fuel organ function. So, without calories, your body finds that fuel from other sources. "The body will try to break down tissue and use stored nutrients to preserve life as long as possible," Paul says. "Our bodies are incredibly resilient when pushed to the brink."First, your body taps into whatever glucose you have left. Within the first few hours, it'll target the glucose in your blood, aka blood sugar. After that, it goes after <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/glycogen.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">glycogen -</a> the glucose in your liver - which will take around <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534877/#:~:text=Most%20glycogen%20is%20stored%20in,adipose%20tissue%20and%20protein%20stores." target="_blank" rel="noopener">24 hours to deplete</a>.Beyond that, your body has to make a significant transition from burning glucose to burning stored fat, through a process called ketosis. This is when you'll start to experience significant weight loss and preliminary starvation <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000404.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symptoms</a> like dizziness, brain fog, and fatigue. Your body can take anywhere from days to weeks to deplete fat stores, depending on how much there is. But once those are gone, the only thing left for your body to burn is the protein inside of your muscle, says Ali. This can include your heart muscle, increasing the risk of cardiac arrest. Once your body starts burning protein, your health goes downhill very quickly causing:<ul><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4355339/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Osteoporosis or reduced bone density</a></li><li><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16924163/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cardiovascular disease</a></li><li><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15485719/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Organ failure</a></li></ul>If you are not treated soon, inevitable organ failure can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3292410/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prove fatal</a>.<h2>How long can you go without water?</h2>It is estimated people can only survive 2 to 4 days without water. For example, in 1944, two scientists <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1393454/?page=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abstained</a> from drinking water while still eating a dry diet that had all the necessary nutrients. One lasted 3 days and the other went for 4 before they had to stop the experiment.Related Article Module: How to recognize and treat the symptoms of mild, severe, or chronic dehydrationWhile the body can break down tissue to replace the fuel from food, there is no internal process to make up for lack of hydration, Paul says. Within hours of not drinking, you can start to experience <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/dehydration.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symptoms of dehydration</a> including:<ul><li>Thirst</li><li>Dry skin</li><li>Dizziness</li></ul>With time, these progress to:<ul><li>Confusion</li><li>Racing heart</li><li>Organ failure</li></ul>Dehydration can become fatal quickly, especially in hot climates, says Ali. <h2>Insider's takeaway </h2>If you don't have access to food, your body can still survive for weeks by breaking down tissue and stored fat. The fuel released by this process lets your organs continue to function. However, there is no way for your body to replace fluids, so most people can only survive 2 to 4 days without water. You should never severely limit food or water as a way to lose weight. Not only can it be unsafe, but it can also be counteractive, Ali says. If you're taking in less than 800 to 1,000 calories per day, your metabolism may slow, meaning you burn fewer calories thereby making weight loss harder, not easier. Moreover, "you'll feel more tired and run down," Ali says. Therefore, stick to a diverse diet of primarily healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins if weight loss is your goal. <a data-type="606e246768059d076277397b">How to recognize and treat the symptoms of mild, severe, or chronic dehydration</a><a data-type="608c5dd33966fa7b0f7076f1">How to tell if your headache is due to dehydration and 4 ways to relieve the pain quickly</a><a data-type="6081b6a1c29eae77e5075ec6">Going keto can cause flu-like symptoms - here are 5 tips to avoid or treat the keto flu</a><a data-type="5f495b8a28ea7106e4464b13">How to find the right eating disorder treatment plan for you</a>

How many days a person can survive without food or water

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="131396" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="orthorexia">Orthorexia</keyword> nervosa is an eating disorder that causes people to become fixated on healthy eating. </li><li>Orthorexia symptoms include obsessively checking <keyword id="52652" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="nutrition">nutrition</keyword> labels and refusing to eat "bad" foods.</li><li>Treatment for orthorexia includes a combination of nutrition counseling and therapy.</li></ul><a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/other/orthorexia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orthorexia nervosa</a> is an eating disorder that is characterized as an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. It often involves restricting certain food groups and over emphasizes "clean eating" to a point where it interferes with quality of life. It is difficult to estimate how many people have orthorexia as there is currently no formal diagnostic criteria. Here's what you need to know about orthorexia - from common symptoms to how it's treated. <h2>Understanding orthorexia </h2>People develop orthorexia when they obsessively fixate on "healthy eating." While deciding to pursue a healthy lifestyle isn't bad, people with orthorexia become <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/other/orthorexia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compulsive and inflexible </a>with their eating. Unlike other <keyword id="174535" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="eating-disorders">eating disorders</keyword>, orthorexia is usually not motivated by weight concerns or body image issues, says <a href="https://shs.tamu.edu/staff/nutritionservices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meghan Windham,</a> a registered dietitian at Texas A&amp;M University. Orthorexia often starts because a person wants to improve their overall <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> by taking control of the foods they eat. For many, this means turning to fad diets that restrict certain food groups or promote specific eating patterns. Windham says following these types of diets can quickly become obsessive, even if they don't start out that way. Note: People with orthorexia tend to be <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033318214000504?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concerned about the quality</a> of the foods they eat, rather than the amount of food that they eat.Food concerns can vary among individuals with orthorexia. For example, some may restrict major food groups - such as dairy or gluten - while others may be fixated with only consuming raw foods. Orthorexia is not considered an official <keyword id="6354774" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mental-health">mental health</keyword> condition by the DSM-5 - the manual used to diagnose mental illnesses. One reason for this is because symptoms of orthorexia tend to overlap with other conditions such as <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00555/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, and other avoidant/restrictive food intake disorders (ARFIDs)</a>. If left untreated, orthorexia can progress and lead to lasting mental and physical health consequences and may even take the form of other eating disorders like <a href="https://www.insider.com/do-i-have-anorexia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anorexia nervosa</a> or <a href="https://www.insider.com/do-i-have-bulimia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bulimia</a>, says <a href="https://www.bu.edu/sargent/profile/paula-a-quatromoni-dsc-rd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paula Quatromoni</a>, DSC, RD, an associate professor and chair of the Department of Health Sciences at Boston University. <h2>Signs you may have orthorexia</h2>Like most eating disorders, the signs and symptoms of orthorexia are mental, behavioral, and physical. Orthorexia presents differently in individuals, so symptoms may vary from person to person. <h3>Mental symptoms</h3>Mental, or emotional symptoms, of orthorexia tend to be similar to those of other eating disorders and <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-ocd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obsessive-compulsive disorder</a> (OCD). These <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4340368/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">include</a>:<ul><li>Impaired memory</li><li>Anxiety</li><li>Intrusive thoughts</li><li>Rigid thinking</li><li>Perfectionism</li></ul><h3>Behavioral symptoms</h3>Behavioral symptoms are some of the earliest signs of an eating disorder. According to Windham, those associated with orthorexia include: <ul><li>Obsessively checking nutrition labels on foods</li><li>The need to look up the menu at a restaurant before agreeing to eat there</li><li>Avoiding going out to dinner or having other people cook for you </li><li>Eating before or after social events involving food</li><li>Indicating a fear of certain foods by using language such as, "I can't eat that" or "I am afraid to eat that"</li></ul><h3>Physical symptoms</h3>People with orthorexia are at a higher risk of developing micronutrient deficiencies because they tend to restrict certain food groups. This can lead to physical symptoms if the deficiency is left untreated. Here are some common micronutrient deficiencies in people with orthorexia and their corresponding physical symptoms:<table style="height: 260px; width: 775px; border-style: solid;" border="1"><tbody><tr style="height: 65px;"><td style="width: 105px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Food restricted</td><td style="width: 219px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Risk of micronutrient deficiency</td><td style="width: 426px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Physical symptoms</td></tr><tr style="height: 65px;"><td style="width: 105px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Meat products</td><td style="width: 219px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">B12, Iron</td><td style="width: 426px; height: 65px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355034#:~:text=As%20the%20name%20implies%2C%20iron,tired%20and%20short%20of%20breath." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anemia</a><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355034#:~:text=As%20the%20name%20implies%2C%20iron,tired%20and%20short%20of%20breath." target="_blank" rel="noopener">:</a> which can cause pale skin, weakness, and balance problems</td></tr><tr style="height: 65px;"><td style="width: 105px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Dairy products</td><td style="width: 219px; height: 65px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nof.org/patients/treatment/calciumvitamin-d/#:~:text=Vitamin%20D%20is%20added%20to,(DV)%20of%20vitamin%20D." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calcium, Vitamin D</a></td><td style="width: 426px; height: 65px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15050-vitamin-d--vitamin-d-deficiency#:~:text=It%20is%20caused%20by%20a,keep%20bones%20strong%20and%20healthy." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Loss of bone mass</a> which can lead to osteoporosis</td></tr><tr style="height: 65px;"><td style="width: 105px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Gluten</td><td style="width: 219px; height: 65px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.bidmc.org/centers-and-departments/digestive-disease-center/services-and-programs/celiac-center/celiacnow/nutrition-and-the-gluten-free-diet/nutritional-considerations-on-the-gluten-free-diet/common-nutritional-deficiencies-in-people-with-celiac-disease#:~:text=Common%20deficiencies%20in%20newly%20diagnosed,tired%20and%20poor%20bone%20health." target="_blank" rel="noopener">B vitamins, iron, and other minerals</a></td><td style="width: 426px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Weakness and fatigue</td></tr></tbody></table>These obsessive and compulsive behaviors around food choices can impede on a person's social life."Some people find it easier to compulsively stay at home, rather than socialize to have complete control over their food environment, which quickly becomes a really isolating way to live," says Quatromoni. <h2>Early warning signs of orthorexia</h2>It is important to try to recognize when someone needs help with orthorexia sooner, rather than later."The longer someone has been in the trenches with this, the greater the health risks, and the longer the road to recovery will be," says Quatromoni. It can be tricky to tell if someone has orthorexia or if they are just a healthy-eater. Windham says healthy eating has progressed to orthorexia when, "your food intake is governed by strict rules, rather than day to day choices."According to Quatromoni, here are some signs that may indicate a person is developing orthorexia:<ul><li>They assign moral values to food, such as it being "good" or "bad".</li><li>They avoid large food groups such as carbohydrates, dairy, or sweets.</li><li>They participate in fad diets such as intermittent fasting or the ketogenic diet.</li></ul>Early identification and intervention can help people with this disorder have the best possible outcomes in recovery. If you are worried that someone you know may be experiencing these symptoms, here is some advice on how to approach them about your concerns, says <a href="https://adaa.org/node/3151" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lauren Smolar</a>, the director of programs at the National Eating Disorders Association.<ul><li>Talk to them in a non-confrontational and non-judgmental way</li><li>Cite specific behaviors you are concerned about</li><li>Encourage them to get help when they are ready to do so</li><li>Be supportive when they do seek help</li></ul><h2>Risk factors and causes of orthorexia</h2>"Oftentimes the symptoms we see in people with orthorexia are extensions of underlying psychiatric conditions or they are triggered by psychological stressors," says Quatromoni. There are certain factors that place some people at higher risk of developing orthorexia. These include: <ul><li>Other mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, OCD, and depression. </li><li>Stressful life events such as divorce, losing a job, or beginning college. People may use strict eating patterns to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6234674/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gain back a sense of control</a> in their lives and cope with uncontrollable situations, says Quatromoni.</li><li>Athletes are at risk because they often use diet as a means to <a href="https://www.bradley.edu/sites/bodyproject/disorders/orthorexia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improve their performance</a> or change their body composition which makes them especially susceptible to developing orthorexia. </li></ul><h2>Treatment options for orthorexia</h2>Orthorexia is treated with a combination of nutrition counseling and therapy.Related Article Module: How to find the right eating disorder treatment plan for you"It's important to work with a dietitian to correct nutrient deficiencies and restore physical well being, as well as a mental health professional to treat the psychological side of this disorder," says Quatromoni. Nutrition counseling is education-based and can help people with orthorexia re-incorporate food groups they are scared of and understand the benefits of a varied diet."Nutrition counseling can help people with orthorexia relearn what a healthy plate looks like," says Windham.Meanwhile, therapy can help people with orthorexia understand underlying mental health issues and stressors that may be driving their rigid food behaviors. If people are also suffering from anxiety or OCD, they may be prescribed medication to treat those conditions. <h2>Insider's takeaway </h2>If you are concerned your healthy eating habits have become disordered or started to impede on your quality of life, you should seek help from a dietician, therapist, or contact the <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Eating Disorders Helpline</a>."Even if you don't meet any official diagnostic criteria you are still deserving of care to help you work through the concerns you have about your behaviors," says Smolar.<a data-type="5f47dc52de1e9663865528ec">Do I have anorexia? How to recognize the signs and get proper treatment</a><a data-type="6009bb18a173975ea37249f4">3 reasons why BMI is not an accurate measure of your health or body weight - and what to use instead</a><a data-type="5f919ce1acfefb475e56492e">Why gluten isn't always bad for you, and a gluten-free diet may even be less healthy</a><a data-type="601078c81407c830be0eed88">Intuitive eating is an anti-diet, mindfulness practice with proven health benefits - here's how to get started</a>

What is orthorexia? How to recognize the signs of obsessive healthy eating

<ul><li>In an interview with Business Insider, <keyword id="8543122" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sachin-Kansal">Sachin Kansal</keyword>, Senior Director of Global Safety Products, <keyword id="1042120" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uber">Uber</keyword> a lot of the company’s global products are built with an India-first approach.</li><li>Uber has launched three new safety features – Audio recording, Ridecheck and PIN verification. </li><li>Recently, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was in India to launch the public transport feature.</li></ul>For global ride-hailing giant Uber, India is a very, very important market. And this is seen in the hurry with which it is bringing its global products to India. After making Delhi, the first Asian city to get its public transport feature, Uber has launched three new safety features – Audio recording, Ridecheck and PIN verification for the India market. In fact, a lot of Uber’s global products are built with an India-first approach, if not designed in India itself. “India has actually been at the leading edge of a lot of our products. The 24/7 safety helpline was first implemented in India. The Ridecheck feature that we are announcing was actually pioneered by our teams in India – idea for the feature came from the India team. Uberlite was also a product designed in India. So the country is a source of ideas and inputs for a lot of our innovative features,” Sachin Kansal, Senior Director of Global Safety Products, Uber told Business Insider. Uber had also launched an inter-city travel feature, which is an India only product. Here’s why Uber is taking the ‘India First’ route According to a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/04/uber-india-tops-1point6-billion-in-annual-bookings-according-to-email.html">report,</a> Uber’s India bookings reached an annualized rate of $1.4 billion in the third quarter⁠— accounting for 11% of the company’s global bookings. According to <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/uber-indias-profits-rise-63-to-rs-43-crore-in-fy19/1809160/">reports</a>, Uber’s India business also saw a jump in profits by 63% to ₹43.2 crore as of March 2019. Uber operates in over 60 countries, and when more than one in every ten bookings come from a single country ⁠— which is also raking in the moolah ⁠— it becomes an important destination for the brand. Size and profit matter but that’s not everything India is also a complex market, a fact that Uber has learnt the hard way. Implementing all of these safety features in India is important for Uber which has been caught in the wrong foot multiple times in India. In 2014, an Uber driver was <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30368479">accused of rape</a> of a female rider in India’s national capital Delhi, which caused a huge uproar in the country and was also a PR disaster for the company. These are some of the new safety features added in Uber and most of them have been piloted in India. Ridecheck Uber can detect long stops or if a ride has been stopped far away from the destination and it will proactively reach out to the rider to ensure safety. Kansal told Business Insider that a lot of Uber’s India users asked for this feature. “India is a very very important market. For the safety team, India is always a priority. I understand the Indian market and the Indian consumer,” said Kansal. Audio Recording Uber will record audio while you are on the trip. It is currently being piloted in Brazil and Mexico and will soon come to India, as the Uber team is currently working with policy teams to ensure it adheres to the laws of the land. “Privacy is a very important part of how we design this feature. We feel very good about taking care of regulations as well as user expectations. The recording will be on the rider or driver’s phone but they cannot listen to the recording themselves, cannot transfer, the only thing they can do is delete it or upload it to Uber as part of a safety issue. Uber authorized agents can listen to the recording in case a complaint comes in,” said Kansal. PIN verification The third feature it launched is the PIN verification feature, where you get a four digit pin to ensure you are getting into the right car. Interestingly, Kansal informs us that Uber is currently testing technology where you can use wireless waves such as ultrasound waves for the two phones to talk to each other. While the PIN verification feature has just been rolled out in the US for Uber, a similar feature existed in India long back with Uber’s rival Ola. So, is competition in mind when they are developing new products? “We don’t think of what competition is doing, we think of what users want. Our prioritisation is based on user feedback and that’s how products are rolled out,” said Kansal. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/ola-latest-ai-feature-will-ensure-the-company-tracks-your-ride-for-any-emergency/articleshow/72937001.cms">Ola’s latest AI feature will ensure the company tracks your ride for any emergency</a>

An Uber exec explains why all of its latest safety features get priority in India

<a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/other/orthorexia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><ul class="summary-list"><li>People develop <keyword id="131396" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="orthorexia">orthorexia</keyword> when they become fixated on healthy eating to the point it impedes on their quality of life.</li><li>Common symptoms of orthorexia include obsessive nutrition label checking, labeling food as "good" or "bad", and not eating out at restaurants. </li><li>Orthorexia can be treated with therapy and nutritional counseling. </li><li>This article <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-medical-review-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was medically reviewed</a> by <a href="http://m.alisarubybash.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alisa Ruby Bash</a>, PsyD, LMFT, a licensed family therapist in Malibu, California.</li></ul><a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/other/orthorexia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orthorexia</a> is an <keyword id="27534" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="eating-disorder">eating disorder</keyword> that is characterized as an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. It often involves restricting certain food groups and over emphasizes "clean eating" to a point where it interferes with quality of life. It is difficult to estimate how many people have orthorexia as there is currently no formal diagnostic criteria. Here is what you need to know about orthorexia from common symptoms to how it's treated. <h2>What is orthorexia? </h2>People develop orthorexia when they obsessively fixate on "healthy eating." While deciding to pursue a healthy lifestyle isn't bad, people with orthorexia become <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/other/orthorexia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compulsive and inflexible </a>with their eating. Unlike other eating disorders, orthorexia is usually not motivated by weight concerns or body image issues, says <a href="https://shs.tamu.edu/staff/nutritionservices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meghan Windham,</a> a registered dietitian at Texas A&amp;M University. Orthorexia often starts because a person wants to improve their overall <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> by taking control of the foods they eat. For many, this means turning to fad diets that restrict certain food groups or promote specific eating patterns. Windham says following these types of diets can quickly become obsessive, even if they don't start out that way. People with orthorexia tend to be <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033318214000504?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concerned about the quality</a> of the foods they eat, rather than the amount of food that they eat. Food concerns can vary among individuals with orthorexia. For example, some may restrict major food groups — such as dairy or gluten — while others may be fixated with only consuming raw foods. Orthorexia is not considered an official <keyword id="6354774" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mental-health">mental health</keyword> condition by the DSM-5 — the manual used to diagnose mental illnesses. One reason for this is because symptoms of orthorexia tend to overlap with other conditions such as <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00555/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, and other avoidant/restrictive food intake disorders (ARFIDs)</a>. If left untreated, orthorexia can progress and lead to lasting mental and physical health consequences and may even take the form of other eating disorders like <a href="https://www.insider.com/do-i-have-anorexia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anorexia nervosa</a> or <a href="https://www.insider.com/do-i-have-bulimia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bulimia</a>, says <a href="https://www.bu.edu/sargent/profile/paula-a-quatromoni-dsc-rd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paula Quatromoni</a>, DSC, RD, an associate professor and chair of the Department of Health Sciences at Boston University. <h2>Signs you may have orthorexia</h2>Like most eating disorders, the signs and symptoms of orthorexia are mental, behavioral, and physical. Orthorexia presents differently in individuals, so symptoms may vary from person to person. <h3>Mental symptoms</h3>Mental, or emotional symptoms, of orthorexia tend to be similar to those of other eating disorders and <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-ocd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obsessive-compulsive disorder</a> (OCD). These <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4340368/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">include</a>:<ul><li>Impaired memory</li><li>Anxiety</li><li>Intrusive thoughts</li><li>Rigid thinking</li><li>Perfectionism</li></ul><h3>Behavioral symptoms</h3>Behavioral symptoms are some of the earliest signs of an eating disorder. According to Windham, those associated with orthorexia include: <ul><li>Obsessively checking nutrition labels on foods</li><li>The need to look up the menu at a restaurant before agreeing to eat there</li><li>Avoiding going out to dinner or having other people cook for you </li><li>Eating before or after social events involving food</li><li>Indicating a fear of certain foods by using language such as, "I can't eat that" or "I am afraid to eat that"</li></ul><h3>Physical symptoms</h3>People with orthorexia are at a higher risk of developing micronutrient deficiencies because they tend to restrict certain food groups. This can lead to physical symptoms if the deficiency is left untreated. Here are some common micronutrient deficiencies in people with orthorexia and their corresponding physical symptoms:<table style="height: 260px; width: 775px; border-style: solid;" border="1"><tbody><tr style="height: 65px;"><td style="width: 105px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Food restricted</td><td style="width: 219px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Risk of micronutrient deficiency</td><td style="width: 426px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Physical symptoms</td></tr><tr style="height: 65px;"><td style="width: 105px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Meat products</td><td style="width: 219px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">B12, Iron</td><td style="width: 426px; height: 65px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355034#:~:text=As%20the%20name%20implies%2C%20iron,tired%20and%20short%20of%20breath." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anemia</a><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355034#:~:text=As%20the%20name%20implies%2C%20iron,tired%20and%20short%20of%20breath." target="_blank" rel="noopener">:</a> which can cause pale skin, weakness, and balance problems</td></tr><tr style="height: 65px;"><td style="width: 105px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Dairy products</td><td style="width: 219px; height: 65px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nof.org/patients/treatment/calciumvitamin-d/#:~:text=Vitamin%20D%20is%20added%20to,(DV)%20of%20vitamin%20D." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calcium, Vitamin D</a></td><td style="width: 426px; height: 65px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15050-vitamin-d--vitamin-d-deficiency#:~:text=It%20is%20caused%20by%20a,keep%20bones%20strong%20and%20healthy." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Loss of bone mass</a> which can lead to osteoporosis</td></tr><tr style="height: 65px;"><td style="width: 105px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Gluten</td><td style="width: 219px; height: 65px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.bidmc.org/centers-and-departments/digestive-disease-center/services-and-programs/celiac-center/celiacnow/nutrition-and-the-gluten-free-diet/nutritional-considerations-on-the-gluten-free-diet/common-nutritional-deficiencies-in-people-with-celiac-disease#:~:text=Common%20deficiencies%20in%20newly%20diagnosed,tired%20and%20poor%20bone%20health." target="_blank" rel="noopener">B vitamins, iron, and other minerals</a></td><td style="width: 426px; height: 65px; text-align: center;">Weakness and fatigue</td></tr></tbody></table>These obsessive and compulsive behaviors around food choices can impede on a person's social life. "Some people find it easier to compulsively stay at home, rather than socialize to have complete control over their food environment, which quickly becomes a really isolating way to live," says Quatromoni. <h2>Early warning signs of orthorexia</h2>It is important to try to recognize when someone needs help with orthorexia sooner, rather than later. "The longer someone has been in the trenches with this, the greater the health risks, and the longer the road to recovery will be," says Quatromoni. It can be tricky to tell if someone has orthorexia or if they are just a healthy-eater. Windham says healthy eating has progressed to orthorexia when, "your food intake is governed by strict rules, rather than day to day choices."According to Quatromoni, here are some signs that may indicate a person is developing orthorexia:<ul><li>They assign moral values to food, such as it being "good" or "bad".</li><li>They avoid large food groups such as carbohydrates, dairy, or sweets.</li><li>They participate in fad diets such as intermittent fasting or the ketogenic diet.</li></ul>Early identification and intervention can help people with this disorder have the best possible outcomes in recovery. If you are worried that someone you know may be experiencing these symptoms, here is some advice on how to approach them about your concerns, says <a href="https://adaa.org/node/3151" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lauren Smolar</a>, the director of programs at the National Eating Disorders Association.<ul><li>Talk to them in a non-confrontational and non-judgemental way</li><li>Cite specific behaviors you are concerned about</li><li>Encourage them to get help when they are ready to do so</li><li>Be supportive when they do seek help</li></ul><h2>Risk factors and causes of orthorexia</h2>"Oftentimes the symptoms we see in people with orthorexia are extensions of underlying psychiatric conditions or they are triggered by psychological stressors," says Quatromoni. There are certain factors that place some people at higher risk of developing orthorexia. These include: <ul><li>Other mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, OCD, and depression. </li><li>Stressful life events such as divorce, losing a job, or beginning college. People may use strict eating patterns to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6234674/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gain back a sense of control</a> in their lives and cope with uncontrollable situations, says Quatromoni.</li><li>Athletes are at risk because they often use diet as a means to <a href="https://www.bradley.edu/sites/bodyproject/disorders/orthorexia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improve their performance</a> or change their body composition which makes them especially susceptible to developing orthorexia. </li></ul><h2>Treatment options for orthorexia</h2>Orthorexia is treated with a combination of nutrition counseling and therapy. "It's important to work with a dietician to correct nutrient deficiencies and restore physical well being, as well as a mental health professional to treat the psychological side of this disorder," says Quatromoni. "Nutrition counseling can help people with orthorexia relearn what a healthy plate looks like," says Windham. Nutrition counseling is education-based and can help people with orthorexia re-incorporate food groups they are scared of and understand the benefits of a varied diet.Meanwhile, therapy can help people with orthorexia understand underlying mental health issues and stressors that may be driving their rigid food behaviors. If people are also suffering from anxiety or OCD, they may be prescribed medication to treat those conditions. Read more about finding the <a href="https://www.insider.com/eating-disorder-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best treatment options for eating disorders</a>. <h2>The bottom line</h2>If you are concerned your healthy eating habits have become disordered or started to impede on your quality of life, you should seek help from a dietician, therapist, or contact the <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Eating Disorders Helpline</a>. "Even if you don't meet any official diagnostic criteria you are still deserving of care to help you work through the concerns you have about your behaviors," says Smolar.<h2>Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/eating-disorder-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to find the right eating disorder treatment plan for you</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/do-i-have-anorexia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Do I have anorexia? How to recognize the signs and get proper treatment</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/am-i-bipolar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Am I bipolar? The major signs of bipolar disorder</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/do-i-have-bulimia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Do I have bulimia? How to recognize the signs and get help</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/schizoaffective-bipolar-disorder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Signs and symptoms of schizoaffective bipolar disorder</a></li></ul>

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