Dr. Mekam Maheshwar earned his Ph.D. in Health Communication from Osmania University, Hyderabad. His doctoral research, entitled “Influence of Mass Media on Teenagers’ Diet and Health-related Behaviour,” continues to shape policy discussions and research practices regarding media influence on adolescent health. In addition to his doctoral degree, he holds an M.Phil in Nutrition Communication from P.S. Telugu University, and master’s degrees in Communication and Journalism, English Literature, Law, and Commerce—all awarded by Osmania University. This multidisciplinary academic background has endowed him with a unique and comprehensive perspective on human behavior, communication modalities, and the socio-economic contexts that influence health.

Dr. Maheshwar’s diverse career is marked by three key phases:
Journalism: He commenced his professional journey in 1989 as a Sub-Editor and Senior Correspondent with the EENADU/ETV Group. Over a 13-year period, his incisive reporting and engaging editorials addressed critical issues, including health, education, and societal change.
Public Service: His commitment to serving the public led him to a role as a Public Relations Officer with the Indian Railways (South-Central Railway zone) between 2002 and 2006. In this capacity, he managed media relations and played an instrumental role in shaping the public interface of one of India’s largest government organizations.
Scientific Research: In 2006, Dr. Maheshwar transitioned to the scientific domain by joining ICMR–NIN as a Scientist-C. Over the ensuing years, he advanced through the ranks—from Scientist-C to Scientist-D, Scientist-E, and currently, Scientist-F & Senior Deputy Director. His core responsibilities include conducting applied research in nutrition communication, coordinating postgraduate teaching, designing impactful educational campaigns, organizing specialized training programs, and managing extensive outreach initiatives at the institute.

At ICMR–NIN, Dr. Maheshwar heads the Extension and Training Division, which offers premier M.Sc. programs in Applied Nutrition and Sports Nutrition. He is a dedicated educator who teaches Nutrition and Health Communication to postgraduate students and mentors emerging researchers in public health.

A prolific contributor to academic literature, Dr. Maheshwar has an impressive portfolio of 33 publications. Among his significant works are the widely cited book “Mass Media and Health Communication in India” (published by LAP, Germany), which examines the evolving relationship between mass media and public health, and the co-authored community guide, “Know Your Vegetables,” published by ICMR–NIN. His research covers critical areas such as:
    •The representation of nutrition and health in mass media,
    •Adolescents’ media consumption and its influence on dietary behavior,
    •Sports nutrition and its impact on physiological performance, and
    •Community-based strategies for effective health awareness and behavior change communication.

His publications in reputed journals—including Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, Journal of Public Health Research, Journal of Media and Communication Studies, and Journal of Sports Science and Nutrition—underscore his leadership in these interdisciplinary domains.

Dr. Maheshwar’s expertise in communication serves as a vital bridge between rigorous scientific research and the public domain. He has spearheaded numerous outreach campaigns and public health initiatives, including:
    • Spearheaded in production of 15 e-learning modules on nutrition and health topics under POSHAN Abhiyaan. The number of visitors for these e-learning modules has crossed one million mark on the website of www.nin.res.in
    • Designing and implementing training modules and nutrition awareness exhibitions,
    • Coordinating media coverage that has resulted in over 100 published news articles and televised programs on the importance of nutrition,
    • Producing educational materials and short films to effectively convey nutrition messages to diverse audiences, and
    • Leading the development of innovative, multilingual digital content in collaboration with eminent technology partners.

These initiatives have significantly contributed to the ongoing efforts to improve public understanding of nutrition and enhance community health outcomes.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of nutrition communication, Dr. Maheshwar received the prestigious “Innovative Researcher of the Year Award – 2019” in the category of Nutrition Communication & Mass Media.

1. Maheshwar M, Rao RD. A comparative analysis of nutrition science coverage by popular Indian daily newspapers. Journal of Media and Communication Studies. 2011; 3(4):131–143.
2. Maheshwar M, Rao DR. A matter of looks: The framing of obesity in popular Indian daily newspapers. Journal of US-China Medical Sciences. 2011; 8(1):30–34.
3. Maheshwar M, Rao DR. Quantitative analysis of nutrition and health messages in Indian print media. Journal of Public Health Research. 2012; 2(2):28–31.
4. Maheshwar M, Rao SG, Venkaiah K, Rao DR. Evaluation of nutrition reports based on research studies in popular Indian newspapers. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2013; 63(Suppl 1):841.
5. Vijayapushpam T, Maheshwar M*, Rao DR. A comparative analysis of television food advertisements aimed at adults and children in India. Int J Innov Res Sci Engg. 2014; 2(6):476–483. (Corresponding author)
6. Maheshwar M, Vijayapushpam T, Rao SF. A current appraisal of health and nutrition related claims in Indian children’s television food advertisements. Journal of Social Science Studies. 2014; 1(2):125–135.
7. Maheshwar M, Gavaravarapu SRM, Venkaiah K, Rao R. The quality of nutrition research reporting by leading daily newspapers in India. Journal of Media and Communication Studies. 2014; 6(6):92–98.
8. Maheshwar M, Rao DR. Deforestation – A potential threat to nutrition. Int J Tech Res Appl. 2011; 3(2):226–232.
9. Maheshwar M, Rao DR, Amulya Rao N. Quantitative coverage of health & nutrition news – A longitudinal study of Indian prime print media. Asian Academic Research Journal of Multidisciplinary. 2017; 4(1):65–76.
10. Maheshwar M, Narender K, Balakrishna N, Rao DR. Media viewing habits of teenagers. Int J Res Management, Economics & Commerce. 2017; 7(2):1–9.
11. Maheshwar M, Narender K, Balakrishna N, Rao DR. Teenagers’ understanding and influence of media content on their diet and health-related behaviour. Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics. 2018; 4:9. doi:10.4172/2472-1921.100071
12. Maheshwar M, Rao SF, Jagdish B, Narender K, Balakrishna N. Media usage profile of adolescents in varied economic background. Journal of Media and Communication Studies. 2021; 13(2):38–49.
13. Maheshwar M, Taliwal C, Vasa H, Puppala J. Effects of nutrition visuals to increase awareness among adolescents on healthy foods. Journal of Media and Communication Studies. 2024.
14. Maheshwar M, Vemula C, Mandala AM, Suresh C. Effect of training on selected anthropometric and physiological parameters among swimming athletes of junior age category (<16 yrs). International Conference on Sports Engineering. 2023; 87–93.
15. Maheshwar M, Vemula C, Pawar A. Dehydration impact on physiological and cognitive changes in team athletes during diverse training intensities. Recent Trends in Sports Engineering. 2025; 117–124.
16. Maheshwar M, Vemula C, Kalvakolu P. Determination of energy expenditure and body composition among Kabaddi and Volleyball players. Recent Trends in Sports Engineering. 2025; 109–116.
17. Maheshwar M, Vemula C, Andugula A. Comparison of body composition and cardiorespiratory functional differences among track athletes. Recent Trends in Sports Engineering. 2025; 67–86.
18. Maheshwar M, Vemula C, Kavya A. An analysis of Q-angle in relation to anthropometry and training effects on performance and injury risks among Indian female athletes. Recent Trends in Sports Engineering. 2025; 219–228.
19. Maheshwar M, Naga Jyothi Ala MM. Sports drinks vs sports confectionery in athletic performance. Journal of Sports Science and Nutrition. 2025; 6(1):100–106.
20. Maheshwar M Coverage of nutrition-related topics by print media: A comparative analysis of leading newspapers in India. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism. 2009; 55:700.
21. Maheshwar M. Influence of Mass Media on Teenagers’ Diet and Health Related Behavior. Report. 2016.