PM Modi nominates 10 prominent personalities to campaign against obesity
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a campaign to fight obesity in India, specifically by cutting down on edible oil consumption.
He has nominated 10 prominent personalities from different fields to spearhead this initiative.
The nominees include Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, businessman Anand Mahindra, actor Mohanlal, Bhojpuri singer-actor Nirahua (Dinesh Lal Yadav), shooting champion Manu Bhaker, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, actor R Madhavan, singer Shreya Ghoshal, and philanthropist Sudha Murty.
Campaign expansion
PM Modi's call to action against obesity
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "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."
He also asked each nominee to further nominate 10 people each, hoping to expand the reach of this health initiative.
This campaign comes after his "Mann Ki Baat" address, where he expressed concerns over increasing obesity among kids and adults alike.
Twitter Post
PM Modi's post on X
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
Health risks
AIIMS director highlights obesity risks
AIIMS Delhi Director Srinivas also tackled the obesity issue in an interview with NDTV.
He called obesity a "risk factor associated with everything," especially heart disease.
Srinivas said obesity is rising in urban and rural areas across India.
He stressed on a balanced diet, restricting fats to 20% of total dietary intake, and consuming good oils in moderation.
Dietary recommendations
AIIMS director's advice on combating obesity
Srinivas also warned about the dangers of abdominal obesity, which is excessive fat around the stomach and abdomen.
Moreover, he urged people to use less oil in food and pass on the challenge of reducing oil intake by 10 percent to 10 others.
He underscored the need to address both obesity and malnutrition through balanced diets and regular exercise.
"I think we have to tackle both, because somebody is eating more and somebody is eating less," he said.