Why Prime Minister called for fight against obesity?

According to a study published in Lancet, a large number of India's urban and rural population has been categorised as overweight. India stands at third place after the US and China with highest number of obese people

Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24 nominated 10 persons from different walks of life, including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, businessman Anand Mahindra and actor Mohanlal, to help fight obesity.

Bhojpuri singer-actor Nirahua, shooting champion Manu Bhaker, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, actor R Madhavan, singer Shreya Ghoshal and philanthropist and MP Sudha Murty are the other personalities nominated by him.

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But, why there was a need for Prime Minister to give a call to fight obesity? Here, is what we should know about obesity.

According to a study published in Lancet, 70 per cent of India’s urban and rural population is classified as obese or overweight, which could place the country amid an obesity crisis. In fact, India ranks third, just behind the US and China, in the list of top 10 countries with the highest number of obese individuals.

Over the past 10 years, India’s obesity rate has almost tripled, impacting both the country’s urban and rural populations. A global crisis of obesity is affecting people of all ages. Data indicates that obesity rates are high in India, coinciding with the nation’s economic growth and changing lifestyle.

Who is Obese

People whose weight is higher than what is considered healthy for their height are described as being overweight and obese. Obesity can increase your risk for many health problems.

More than 100 million people in India struggle with obesity. It is observed that abdominal obesity is highly prevalent. Around 12% of men and 40% of women are abdominally obese. There are already 14.4 million obese children in India. The primary causes of childhood obesity in India include poor dietary choices, inactivity, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Health risks

Risks of obesity includes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease, cancers, breathing problem, osteoarthritis, gout, disease of gall bladder and pancreas, kidney disease, pregnancy problems, fertility problems, sexual dysfunction, mental health issues.

How to tackle Obesity 

Choosing a healthy eating plan that you can stay on for the long-term may help you lose weight. Being physically active may help you use more calories and maintain your weight loss.