Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to address his country’s growing obesity epidemic by calling on citizens to reduce the use of cooking oils commonly found in unhealthy food.
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However, analysts say it will take a much broader approach – targeting not only diet but also sedentary lifestyles and inadequate sports infrastructure – to avert a public health crisis.
“You should decide that you will use 10 per cent less oil every month. By making small changes in our eating habits, we can build a healthier and disease-free future,” Modi said on Sunday during his monthly radio programme, Mann ki Baat, that focuses on topics of national importance.
A day later, Modi nominated 10 celebrities from different walks of life – including industrialist Anand Mahindra, chief minister of Indian administered Kashmir Omar Abdullah and singer Shreya Ghoshal – to help spread awareness about the issue.
The liberal consumption of cooking oils commonly found in Indian cuisine can, over time, result in obesity and potentially lead to issues including diabetes and heart and lung diseases, health experts agree.
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