February 24, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has nominated 10 prominent personalities from various fields to spearhead a nationwide campaign against obesity and promote healthy eating habits. The move aims to raise awareness about the growing health risks associated with excessive consumption of unhealthy foods, particularly edible oils.

Taking to social media platform X, Modi announced his nominations, urging them to further extend the initiative by nominating 10 more individuals each. “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,” he wrote.

The 10 personalities nominated by Modi include Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, industrialist Anand Mahindra, actors R Madhavan, Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua, and Mohan Lal, sport shooter Manu Bhaker, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, singer Shreya Ghoshal, and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty.

During his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, the Prime Minister highlighted the alarming rise in obesity cases, particularly among children. Citing medical studies, he revealed that one in every eight people in India is obese and that childhood obesity has quadrupled in recent years. Modi emphasized the importance of dietary changes, including reducing oil intake, to combat the crisis.

“To become a fit and healthy nation, we must address the issue of obesity. Small lifestyle changes today can lead to a healthier and disease-free future,” Modi stated.

The initiative is expected to gain momentum as more individuals join the campaign, reinforcing the need for a healthier India through mindful eating habits and lifestyle modifications.