Nominates 10 celebrities for campaign
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday nominated 10 persons from different walks of life, including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, businessman Anand Mahindra and actor Mohanlal, to help fight obesity, a day after he exhorted people to take measures to curb the health menace.
“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,” Modi posted on X.
Bhojpuri singer-actor Nirahua, Olympians shooter Manu Bhaker and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, actor R Madhavan, singer Shreya Ghoshal and philanthropist and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty were the other personalities nominated by the Prime Minister.
Making a strong pitch for fighting obesity, Modi in his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast on Sunday urged people to use less oil in food and also pass on the challenge of reducing oil intake by 10% to 10 others.
Leading health experts backed the Prime Minister’s call for fighting obesity and cutting oil consumption in food, saying excessive body weight leads to a myriad of health complications.
Dr Neeraj Nischal, an additional professor in the department of medicine at AIIMS-Delhi, said excessive body weight leads to joint problems, sleep-related disorders and mental health issues like depression and low self-esteem.
Lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of physical activity play a significant role in developing obesity, he said.
Though edible oils, which are rich in unsaturated fats are thought to be beneficial in supporting heart health and metabolism when consumed in moderation, “even healthy oils are very calorie-dense”, the doctor said.
“If we over-consume them thinking they are healthy, it can lead to excess calorie intake, causing obesity,” the doctor said. “So to prevent obesity, it is essential to use oils in moderation and look for healthier options.”
Dr Pradeep Kumar Jain, the principal director and head of the department of bariatric and MIS at Fortis Hospital in Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh, said that since oil contains maximum energy per gram compared to carbohydrates and protein, it is also responsible for obesity if taken in large amount.
“Obesity is prevalent in nearly 40% of the Indian population. Obesity is higher in south India and among men,” he said, adding that the primary approach to managing obesity is through lifestyle modifications, which include adopting a healthy diet.
The Prime Minister’s proposal to reduce edible oil consumption by 10% is a positive step toward combating obesity, said Dr Praveen Chandra, the chairman of the cardiology department at Medanta.
Oils should be kept to a minimum to get the least calories, he said and elaborated that the traditional Indian diet aligns with this concept – avoiding fried foods and limiting oil.
“Recommended safe limit as per calorie intake is five to six teaspoons (200-240 calories) of oil per day for women while men should consume 6-7 teaspoons 240-280 calories. As per an epidemiological study conducted in India in 2023, the prevalence of obesity stands at approximately 13.85% and abdominal obesity 57%,” Dr Chandra said.
Dr Piyush Ranjan, the vice chairman of the gastroenterology department at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, termed the Prime Minister’s remarks a very welcome statement. “If people adopt this in their daily life, it will go a long way in prevention of non-communicable diseases,” he said.
“Incidence of obesity and diabetes are increasing and these conditions cause cardiovascular and liver diseases. The call for adopting healthy eating habits and exercise in our daily life will lead to a reduction in obesity and allied conditions,” the doctor said.
Omar Abdullah said he was happy to join the campaign against obesity launched by the Prime Minister. The Chief Minister also nominated 10 persons to join the campaign.
“Obesity causes a number of lifestyle-related health issues such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, strokes and breathing problems, not to mention mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Today I’m nominating these 10 people to join the PM’s campaign against obesity and requesting them to nominate a further 10 people each to take this fight forward,” Abdullah wrote on X.
Among those nominated by Abdullah were Biocon managing director Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, businessman Sajjan Jindal, actor Deepika Padukone, former tennis player Sania Mirza, ex-cricketer Irfan Pathan, MP Supriya Sule and former wushu player Kuldeep Handoo.
Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra said to achieve the mission of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, “we not only need a strong economy, but a healthy population as well”.
“Making small changes like using even 10% less cooking oil can build up to big contributions; be it to your well-being, to your wallet, or to a healthier world. Thank you, PM @narendramodi, for your call to action,” Mahindra posted on X.
The businessman nominated actors Anil Kapoor and Gul Panag, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, India’s first chess grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand and ace badminton player P V Sindhu to take forward the campaign.
Nilekani said apart from a range of health-related benefits, reduced use of edible oil will also strengthen the nation’s economy by cutting dependence on imports and saving valuable resources. “In addition to dietary changes, I have also incorporated daily exercise to keep obesity and related issues in check,” he said.
Nilekani nominated Goenka Group chairman Harsh Goenka, chef Ritu Dalmia, Myntra founder Mukesh Bansal and Kotak Mahindra Bank director Uday Kotak, among others, for the campaign.
Sudha Murthy nominated fellow parliamentarian and former Olympian P T Usha, ex-cricketers Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad, former top cop and governor Kiran Bedi and author Amish Tripathi, among others.
Wightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won the silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, also took to X to thank the Prime Minister for nominating her.
Chanu nominated reigning world chess champion D Gukesh, paralympian Avani Lekhara, former shooter Gagan Narang and star shuttler P V Sindhu, among others, for the campaign.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister on Monday slammed the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), BJP-led NDA’s principal rival in Bihar, accusing it of ushering in “rule of jungle” while in power and charged its founding president Lalu Prasad with “theft of fodder” and “vulgar” remarks about Maha Kumbh.
The multipronged attack came in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, where Modi disbursed close to Rs 23,000 crore to nearly 100 million beneficiaries of Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, across the country, besides launching several development projects.
The PM addressed a rally on the occasion, which is expected to set the tempo for assembly polls due later this year, reaching the venue perched atop an open vehicle painted in saffron, in what looked like an impromptu roadshow.
In his 40-minute speech, Modi did not mention RJD or its supremo by name, but said the “jungle raj waale” nursed “hatred” for “our heritage and faith”.
Accusing the RJD of having objected to the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya, the PM made an indirect reference to Prasad’s controversial remarks about the ongoing Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.
“The Maha Kumbh is the greatest celebration of Bharat’s unity. The number of people who have taken a holy dip exceeds the population of Europe. Many people from Bihar have also undertaken the pilgrimage,” the PM said.
“But these jungle raj wallahs are speaking ill of Maha Kumbh and making vulgar remarks. These people were opposed to the Ram temple at Ayodhya, too. I know Bihar will not forgive them,” said Modi.
The allusion was to Prasad’s remarks in the aftermath of the stampede at New Delhi railway station recently when at least 18 people were crushed to death.
Demanding the resignation of railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav, the RJD supremo, who had held the portfolio in the Manmohan Singh government, berated the heavy rush, saying “what does Kumbh signify? It is nonsense”.
