Why fitness is important in today”s time
People who are physically fit are also healthier, are able to maintain their most optimum weight, and are also not prone to cardiac and other health problems. In order to maintain a relaxed state of mind, a person should be physically active. A person who is fit both physically and mentally is strong enough to face the ups and downs of life, and is not affected by drastic changes if they take place.
Problem of obesity in India
Obesity in Indian has reached an alarming rate in the 21st century, with morbid obesity affecting 5% of the country’s population. India is following a trend of other developing countries that are steadily becoming more obese. Unhealthy, processed food has become much more accessible following India’s continued integration in global food markets. This, combined with rising middle class incomes, is increasing the average caloric intake per individual among middle class and high income households. Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease too and makes people with obesity at greater risk of coronary diseases.
India is gaining weight. Traditionally known for malnutrition, Indians now report more and more frequently with overweight, obesity, and their consequences. Indians exhibit unique features of obesity: Excess body fat, abdominal adiposity, increased subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat, and deposition of fat in ectopic sites (such as liver, muscle, and others). Obesity is a major driver for the widely prevalent metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes . Although this phenomenon is a global one, India is unique in that it has to grapple with both over and under nutrition at the same time.
Reason for obesity
Wrong eating habits
This is one of the major causes of obesity. Obesity never develops overnight, it progresses with poor diet.
Junk and Fast Food
As people tend to eat out more often, the consumption of junk food is among key causes of obesity. During childhood, children fed junk food will find it hard to develop good eating habits.
Low physical activity
Lack of physical activity aided by technology boom is making us physically inactive and leading to people becoming obese.
Lack of awareness
A major section of population still lacks basic knowledge about right nutrition, which is again among major causes of obesity.
Fitness Culture in India
In India, We don’t take fitness seriously. Let’s admit it! There has been a spike in Yoga centers, gyms, and zumba classes in every nook and corner of every city, but the truth is that Indians don’t take fitness seriously.
Mindset for fitness
We don’t normally encourage anyone who adopts to a healthy way of living. For example, a person cycling to work will be mocked for being a miser or will drive out of the road honking by the cars and bikes considering him/her to be a nuisance. We are good at making up excuses for not getting up for a workout or a morning jog. If you are a young person joining Yoga, your peer will mock you by telling you to go and meditate in the Himalayas. The problem is that in India exercise is seen as an unusual activity, a fad or an indulgence of the elite. If you workout people comment. Later, we take shelter under the guise of ‘Body shaming to hide our body shape due to non sedentary lifestyle.’
Lack of physical activity in modern India
Our ancestors come from a generation which used to do hard work in agricultural fields. When we migrated to cities we became lazy and got sucked into our comfort zones. This laziness got passed on from generation to generation, we still continue the same practice. What most Indians don’t realize is that everyone has to exercise irrespective of what they are doing in life.
This independence day, lets take a pledge towards a fit INDIA
Simple tips and tricks for you to follow to take a step towards a healthier you
Move more
Moving is the most underrated exercise! The more you move, the more calories you burn throughout the day and more active you feel. Ditch the elevators and always take the stairs.
Eat right
Do not eat junk food and fast food unnecessarily. Avoid deep fried food and opt for baked or grilled options. Home cooked food is cheaper,safer and healthier than food bought from outside.
Educate yourself about healthy habits and nutrition
You are what you eat. If you do not know what and how much you are eating, it becomes very difficult to ascertain the pros and cons of food items you consume. So be aware of ideal quantity of food items to be consumed and their nutritional facts i.e. fat, carbs and protein content.
Fit India Campaign
During the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on 25th March 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the clarion call for a ‘Fit India’ – a movement to take the nation forward on the path of fitness and wellness.
In a bid to make India fitter, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Wednesday started a fitness challenge – ‘Hum Fit Toh India Fit’. Rathore passed on the challenge to team India skipper Virat Kohli and actor Hrithik Roshan who also posted their videos on social media. “Whenever I see the prime minister, I get inspired…He wants all of India to be fit,” Rathore said in the video, before starting with a round of push-ups. “Post pictures and videos of how you keep yourself fit and send a #FitnessChallenge to your friends on social media,” he tweeted.
Within three days, the challenge has gone viral with many celebrities and political leaders like Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, Anushka Sharma, Jayant Sinha, Kiren Rijiju, among others taking it up and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising to share a video of the same.
Health and fitness 