Obesity: A Challenge We Can Overcome Together

Along with the World Health Organization, many people and institutions associated with health services in India also conduct surveys of different diseases from time to time.

- AVINASH RAI KHANNA

Recently, health experts from all over the world have expressed concern over obesity. According to a census conducted in India, more than 40 percent of the population has been found to be equipped with symptoms of obesity. In this too, the number of women is more than that of men. Obesity is found more in cities than in villages.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented the world with the best gift of good health through Yoga Day in the form of International Yoga Day. Recently, through the program 'Mann Ki Baat', he had expressed serious views on the health of Indians.

While thinking about the problem of obesity, many pictures of childhood started emerging in my mind. We used to go on foot to study in schools located at long distances, and when we grew up, we cycled a lot. The body was always ready to work hard through games like hide and seek, kho-kho, lame leg, gulli danda, kabaddi, etc. Our house was three stories high. We had to go to the third floor terrace several times every day to lift the bed. We did not even know about lifts, cars and buses. In schools, we used to get punishment for any mistake, and that too was a good exercise for the body, like becoming a rooster, sitting and walking on our knees, standing with one leg and hand raised, etc.