On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited ten notable figures to support a national movement against obesity and raise awareness about healthier food habits, aligning with his Fit India initiative.
Among those nominated were Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, businessman Anand Mahindra, and actor-turned-politician Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua.
Olympic medalists Manu Bhaker and Mirabai Chanu also featured on the list, along with renowned actors Mohanlal and R Madhavan.
Singer Shreya Ghoshal, Rajya Sabha MP, philanthropist Sudha Murthy, and Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani were among the nominees.
PM Modi encouraged them to nominate ten individuals each further to expand the movement’s reach.
Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “As mentioned in yesterday’s #MannKiBaat, I would like to nominate the following people to help strengthen the fight against obesity and spread awareness on reducing edible oil consumption in food. I also request them to nominate 10 people each so that our movement gets bigger! Collectively, let us make India fitter and healthier.”
As mentioned in yesterday’s #MannKiBaat, I would like to nominate the following people to help strengthen the fight against obesity and spread awareness on reducing edible oil consumption in food. I also request them to nominate 10 people each so that our movement gets bigger!… pic.twitter.com/bpzmgnXsp4
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2025
Addressing Obesity As A National Concern
Earlier on Sunday, during his monthly radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Modi praised India’s progress in sports and underlined the need for a healthier lifestyle.
He highlighted obesity as a growing health challenge, referring to discussions at the National Games’ opening ceremony in Dehradun.
Quoting World Health Organization data, he pointed out that one in eight Indians suffers from obesity, with cases doubling in recent years.
Childhood obesity has increased fourfold, raising serious health concerns.
He stressed that obesity is linked to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension but reassured that adopting small lifestyle changes can help mitigate these risks.
To further this initiative, he invited Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra, boxer Nikhat Zareen, and renowned cardiologist Dr. Devi Shetty to share their insights on obesity prevention in his radio program.
The Prime Minister urged citizens to make conscious dietary choices, particularly by cutting down on excessive oil consumption.
Additionally, he emphasized that this is not just a personal decision but a shared responsibility toward family and society.
PM Modi stated, “Using less oil in food and dealing with obesity is not just a personal choice but also our responsibility towards the family. Excessive use of oil in food can cause many diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.”
“By making small changes in our food habits, we can make our future stronger, fitter, and disease-free. Therefore, without delay, we must increase our efforts in this direction and implement them in our lives. We can all do this together in a very playful and effective way,” the Prime Minister further concluded.
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