A nation-wide Fit India Movement has been launched today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This movement aims to make India, fitter by inspiring people to include physical activity, fitness, lifestyle enhancements and sports in their lives. Today is also National Sports Day that commemorates the birth anniversary of Dhyan Chand, the famous hockey player of the Indian team. For the execution of Fit India Movement, a committee that includes government officials, members of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), national sports federations, private bodies and fitness promoters has been formed to advise the government on the Fit India Movement. Sports minister Kiren Rijiju will spearhead the 28-member committee. Actors Shilpa Shetty and Milind Soman who are known to be two of the biggest celeb fitness enthusiasts in the glitz world are involved too. Fit India Movement Launched by PM Narendra Modi on National Sports Day 2019. 

However, while the initiative seems magnificent, it is also important to note that in terms of fitness, India is clearly in a place of an urgent need for more such efforts to take place. Fit India Movement is not just a campaign but is something that India needs more of. Why do we say this? It is because of the fitness facts have some shocking revelations to make. Let's face it; there are hardly any of us who can say that we dedicate even five minutes to fitness in our lives, some of us don't even think of fitness for five minutes in a day. And consequences, you ask? Let us list down some startling facts about India and its twisted relationship with fitness:

Over Half of Indians Don't Have Time To Exercise

As per a pan-India study, about 52 percent of people in India do not find time to exercise, whereas 36 percent lack the motivation. What's more shocking is that about 14 percent of people don't even know where they should begin their fitness journey. Fifty-three people said in the study conducted by Gympik that they lacked the discipline to stay fit. The study was based on the responses of 1.06 million people from the age group of 20-35 years  What is Fit India Movement? Know Everything About Narendra Modi Government's New Initiative to Keep India Healthy.

Half The Indian Population Doesn't Recieve a Healthy Balanced Nutrition

Did you know that over half of the Indian population out of which maximum are Indian women don't eat foods that form a part of a necessary balanced diet? They do not get fresh fruits, green vegetables, pulses, meat and milk products, even upto a basic level to a healthy life. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) 2015-16 says that fewer than half (47 percent) of all women consume dark green, leafy vegetables daily and another 38 percent eat them only once a week. Indians spend the lowest on health, especially in terms of women nutrition.

Check statistics: 

(Photo Credits: World Health Organization)

Vitamin D Deficiency In India is Real

About 70-90 percent of people in India face Vitamin D deficiency. The lack of vitamin D may lead to dangerous conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. They may also lead to major chronic diseases that may throw even basic health to toss in India.

Indian Packaged Food In India Is The Worst In The World

While we know that packaged foods are unhealthy and laden with preservatives, did you know that even in the list of unhealthiest packaged food, India ranks the lowest? As per the George Institute for Global Health analysed more than 400,000 food and drink products from 12 countries and territories around the world, Indian packaged food is of the lowest quality.

Sleep? Not so Important

Shocking revelations by a survey led by Philips India says that over 60 percent of Indians feel exercise is the top factor impacting health and well-being, even more than sleep! Only 19 percent of Indian adults consider overlapping work hours as a significant hindrance to sleep. Thirty-two percent of people say that technology is a considerable sleep distractor.

What About Pollution?

We all know that when it comes to overall health and well-being, the environment plays an important role. We are talking deaths here. You will not at all be shocked to know that air pollution is now the third-highest cause of death among all health risks in India, causing life expectancy to go down by 2.6 years.

Female Rate of Obesity Increased, Most Are From Affluent Society

From past 17 years till 2016, the proportion of overweight and obese women almost doubled as per a study called, "Trends and Correlates of Overweight among Pre-School Age Children, Adolescent Girls, and Adult Women in South Asia" reports. The proportion of overweight girls and women increased over time in Nepal, India and Bangladesh.

Childhood Obesity Is On The Rise

According to a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, India has the second-highest number of obese children in the world, with 14.4 million reported cases. Childhood obesity can lead to a gamut of health issues in future like, diabetes, cholesterol issues and hypertension.

We really have high hopes from the health and wellness initiative- Fit India Movement. Last year, then sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore started a viral fitness campaign called #HumFitTohIndiaFit. He had posted a video on Twitter doing ten push-ups and encouraged famous people from different walks of life to share their videos and pictures. Let's hope that Fit India Movement helps instil a sense of duty towards one's wellness and health.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2019 12:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).