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Background To investigate the association between national culture and national BMI in 53 low-middle- and high-income countries. Methods Data from World Health Survey conducted in 2002–2004 in low-middle- and high-income countries were used. Participants aged 18 years and over were selected using multistage, stratified cluster sampling. BMI was used as an outcome variable. Culture of the countries was measured using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions: Uncertainty avoidance, individualism, Power Distance and masculinity. The potential determinants of individual-level BMI were participants’ sex, age, marital status, education, occupation as well as household-wealth and location (rural/urban) at the individual-level. The country-level factors used were average national income (GNI-PPP), income inequality (Gini-index) and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. A two-level random-intercepts and fixed-slopes model structure with individuals nested within countries were fitted, treating BMI as a continuous outcome variable. Results A sample of 156,192 people from 53 countries was included in this analysis. The design-based (weighted) mean BMI (SE) in these 53 countries was 23.95(0.08). Uncertainty avoidance (UAI) and individualism (IDV) were significantly associated with BMI, showing that people in more individualistic or high uncertainty avoidance countries had higher BMI than collectivist or low uncertainty avoidance ones. This model explained that one unit increase in UAI or IDV was associated with 0.03 unit increase in BMI. Power distance and masculinity were not associated with BMI of the people. National level Income was also significantly associated with individual-level BMI. Conclusion National culture has a substantial association with BMI of the individuals in the country. This association is important for understanding the pattern of obesity or overweight across different cultures and countries. It is also important to recognise the importance of the association of culture and BMI in developing public health interventions to reduce obesity or overweight.

Background: Lungs are a major organ involved in infectious, inflammatory, occupational and neoplastic diseases. Lungs are also involved secondarily in almost all terminal events. Autopsy is an important tool to identify cause and manner of death and hence to establish preventive methods. Aims: To study the histopathological pattern of lungs in 100 post mortem cases. Methods: This was an observational study on 100 post-mortem specimens of lungs received in the department of Pathology, GMC, Patiala for a period of 1 year from August 2014 onwards. A thorough gross examination was done on the received lung specimens and sections were taken from the representative areas. These sections were processed for paraffin blocks; slides were prepared and stained with routine Hematoxylin and Eosin stains. The slides were studied under the microscope and the results were noted. Results: Out of the 100 cases, 63 showed terminal nonspecific changes; 19 cases showed the evidence of chronic venous congestion. 10 cases were of pneumonia, 6 of granulomatous pathology, and 1 case of metastatic deposits of adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: Infections are the most commonly noticed primary lung pathology mainly comprising of pneumonia followed by tuberculosis. Hence, efforts should be made for the prevention of these infectious diseases.

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