Our forgotten habit of walking

Kashmir has witnessed a dramatic lifestyle shift in recent years. Car ownership has increased with households not only purchasing vehicles but competing to own the newest models and designs. While rising automobile use reflects economic growth, it has also contributed to a silent and rapidly growing public health threat. Medical experts across Jammu & Kashmir warn that “sitting has become the new smoking,” and institutions have begun organizing walkathons simply to remind people to move.

Walking — once an integral part of daily life — has sharply declined. People now rely on their cars for even the shortest distances: from their gate to the market, from home to office etc. These distances, if covered on foot, would easily add thousands of steps to one’s day. On average, a kilometre of normal-paced walking equals around 1,400 steps. Health recommendations suggest completing 5,000 to 10,000 steps daily — roughly 3.5 to 7 km. With complete dependence on vehicles, many Kashmiris barely walk a few hundred steps a day.

The situation is just as worrying for children. Most kids travel to school in buses or private vehicles, missing out on what used to be an effortless source of daily physical activity. After school, many remain glued to mobile phones, games, and social media instead of playing outdoors. As a result, pediatricians report rising childhood obesity, vitamin D deficiency, poor posture, and early signs of lifestyle diseases — problems once associated only with adults. A generation is growing up physically unfit, with unhealthy habits formed at an early age.

The health consequences are already visible. According to a joint SKIMS Soura–ICMR INDIAB study cited by Greater Kashmir, more than 84% of Kashmir’s adults are physically inactive. Even more alarming, over 55% of the adult population is obese, reflecting a staggering 250% rise since 2010. Diabetes has reached a prevalence of 7.8%, and related conditions such as hypertension, fatty liver, and heart disease are becoming increasingly common. Doctors warn that Kashmir is facing a metabolic epidemic driven largely by inactivity.

Experts explain that prolonged sitting has health risks comparable to smoking. Research shows that sitting for more than six hours a day increases the risk of early death by 15–18%, even in people who exercise later. Extended inactivity slows metabolism, promotes fat buildup, triggers inflammation, and lays the foundation for chronic illnesses. The danger lies in its silent nature — the damage accumulates gradually without early symptoms.

Recognizing this crisis, health institutions across J&K have started organizing walkathons and marathons to promote physical activity. On World Diabetes Day, SKIMS Soura conducted a walkathon in which its Director personally ran a stretch to motivate participants. Cardiologists advise starting with just a 10-minute walk and gradually increasing to the recommended 5,000–10,000 steps. Walking improves blood circulation, regulates sugar levels, reduces inflammation, strengthens heart health, and supports weight management.

Obesity — often dismissed as a cosmetic issue — is now understood as a major driver of metabolic diseases. With more than half of adults overweight or obese, the long-term consequences include diabetes, heart disease, joint degeneration, reduced mobility, and a surge in healthcare burden. If current trends continue, experts warn that the medical system may struggle to cope with the rising number of lifestyle-related illnesses.

Political leadership is also stepping in. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has aligned J&K with the national anti-obesity campaign, has actively participated in marathons and public fitness events. Our CMs involvement underscores that fighting lifestyle diseases requires action from government, schools, workplaces, institutions, and individuals.

The link between rising car dependence and declining physical activity is now clear. Earlier, daily routines naturally included 5,000 to 7,000 steps. Today, car-centric lifestyles often fail to provide even 1,000. For children, reduced outdoor play and increased screen time are creating an unhealthy foundation early in life. The sharp rise in obesity, diabetes, and heart disease is directly connected to this drop in movement.

Walkathons are a positive start, but long-term solutions require deeper societal and infrastructural changes. Kashmir needs more walkable spaces, parks, pedestrian-friendly roads, and continuing awareness campaigns. Schools and offices must encourage movement breaks and reduce prolonged sitting.

Kashmir’s adoption of modern transportation reflects progress, but the unintended health consequences are too serious to ignore. With soaring inactivity rates, rising obesity, and increasing metabolic diseases — in both adults and children — walking may be the simplest and most powerful remedy. Cars symbolize development, but they must not overshadow the fundamental necessity of movement for a healthy society.