Study links body odour, confidence

Mumbai: Twenty nine-yearold engineer, Sanjay Sharma, worked to the best of his ability and tried to be on his best behaviour while dealing with colleagues and clients. Yet, each time he passed a co-worker's cubicle, he could see them suppress a squirm behind their smiles. The youth, whose superiors were all praise for his work, couldn't fathom his colleagues' behaviour.      One day, while flipping through a magazine, Sanjay chanced upon an article on body odour and suddenly everything fell into place. Sanjay started using a deodorant but couldn't be sure if his presence was a source of discomfort to those around him. This started affecting his confidence levels.  Sanjay, however, is not alone. A recent survey conducted by Centre for Health and Hygiene—an agency which works towards awareness of various health issues which are otherwise overlooked—has revealed that people with body odour are less confident. The survey was done on 800 people across Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore.  The survey revealed that 70% of people consider body odour a stigma, while 88% feel that it affects their confidence. "Many a time, people suffer from body odour not just because of lack of hygiene, but also due to increased metabolic rate, obesity or increased thyroid,'' said dermatologist Dr Satish Bhatia.  "In a humid city like Mumbai, fungal infections can cause body odour. Uncontrolled diabetes can also be a factor,'' said Dr Hemant Thacker, general practitioner, Jaslok Hospital. "But, it can be controlled."