Fact Check: Did WHO release 7 brain-damaging GFX?

Hyderabad: A WhatsApp message highlighting 7 brain-damaging habits allegedly released by the World Health Organization is being widely shared on social media.

According to the viral graphic WHO logo, there are seven biggest Brain-damaging habits.

1. Missing breakfast

2. Sleeping late

3. High sugar consumption

4. More sleep especially in the morning

5. Eating a meal while watching TV or computer

6. Wearing a cap/scarf and socks while sleeping

7. Habit of blocking/stopping urine

It adds: "Don't just read forward to whom you care as I care for you."

The same misinformation could be found on the website of Medicover Hospital as well.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found the claim to be false as neither these habits cause brain damage nor this graphic is being released by the World Health Organisation.

We found the post to be dubious as the quote in the graphic has a typo. An esteemed organization such as the World Health Organisation would never use U instead of you and such a clumsy spacing error.

We started our investigation by performing a keyword search on the website whether WHO had officially published the above graphic or any of its content as the biggest cause of brain damage but failed to yield any results for the same.

Moreover, we also found that debunking of the same claim by the International Centre for Investigation Reporting confirms that this is not a WHO release.

What is Brain damage?

According to Healthline, Brain damage can occur following a traumatic injury, such as a fall or car accident, or a nontraumatic, acquired injury, such as a stroke. The brain does not fully mend itself the way a cut or other injury does in the body. Recovery and return to function following brain damage depends on the cause of the injury and the person’s symptoms.

It should be noted that brain damage is a big term to be used for such habitual effects. The above listed purported habit might cause temporary brain strain but there is no scientific evidence to prove that such habits cause brain damage. Listed habits might hurt your brain or have other negative effects on health, but studies and reports on these habits showed effects not directly related to brain damage.