“The motive of this public awareness campaign by top ten influentials is to change the dangerous trends of obesity developing fast among children, adolescents, and young adults.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is significantly topping the list of ten influentials including politicians, lawmakers, business leaders, and actors announced recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for leading an awareness campaign against the increasing threat of unhealthy eating which is believed to be the cause of increasing cardiovascular diseases and other growing health risks. In a way Prime Minister has acknowledged the capacity of J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to influence public opinion not only in Jammu & Kashmir but across the country. The challenge for the ten top influentials including Omar Abdullah is very huge given the fact that the country is according to a survey published by The Lancet likely to have the largest population of overweight adolescents/young adults in the age group of 15-24 years by 2050. The motive of this public awareness campaign by top ten influentials is to change the dangerous trends of obesity developing fast among children, adolescents, and young adults. Omar Abdullah in addition to his own responsibilities as Jammu & Kashmir Chief would be now actively engaged with a nationwide campaign being launched at the instance of the Prime Minister to reduce the increasing trends of obesity believed to be the cause of cardiovascular illnesses, a fatal disease like cancers, type 2 diabetes and hormonal imbalances.
When the greater focus has to be on physical fitness Kashmir is the place of attraction for it and Omar Abdullah even before assuming the office of J&K Chief Minister was known for taking keen interest in establishing physical fitness centres in Jammu & Kashmir. Omar Abdullah’s interest in physical fitness could inspire not hundreds but thousands of people to join the campaign against obesity being launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Omar Abdullah has undoubtedly all the leadership qualities to take on board all the stakeholders — parents, schools, civil society groups, and the Government functionaries in carrying forward the campaign against obesity within and outside Jammu & Kashmir .”
The campaign against the obesity is not just about reducing the trends of critical health issues but also about the stress the growing critical illnesses put on national economy by forcing both the Centre and as well as the State/UT Governments to increase budget on development of health facilities required for the treatment of critical diseases caused by the growing trends of obesity more among children and youth than elders across the country. The increasing trends of obesity finally necessitate greater focus on physical activities and eating habits besides early diagnosis about the genetic, mental health, and physiological factors due to which people of different age groups accumulate body fat. When the greater focus has to be on physical fitness Kashmir is the place of attraction for it and Omar Abdullah even before assuming the office of J&K Chief Minister was known for taking keen interest in establishing physical fitness centres in Jammu & Kashmir. Omar Abdullah’s interest in physical fitness could inspire not hundreds but thousands of people to join the campaign against obesity being launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Omar Abdullah has undoubtedly all the leadership qualities to take on board all the stakeholders — parents, schools, civil society groups, and the Government functionaries in carrying forward the campaign against obesity within and outside Jammu & Kashmir .
