With sitting becoming ‘new smoking’, J&K health institutions turn to walkathons to fight inactivity crisis

Srinagar, Nov 14: Walkathons and marathons have become the new face of health awareness campaigns in Jammu and Kashmir, replacing the symposiums and seminars that once marked World Heart Day, World Diabetes Day or World Obesity Day. Across hospitals and health institutions, doctors and administrators are lacing up to send a simple but urgent message: move for better health.

Health experts say the shift is not symbolic but necessary. Sitting has now been labelled the “new smoking,” with studies linking more than six hours of daily sedentary time to a 15–18 percent rise in mortality risk, independent of exercise. Prolonged inactivity is fuelling spikes in diabetes, heart disease and cancer by slowing metabolism and triggering inflammation—effects comparable to the cumulative harm of smoking, yet socially invisible and widely normalised.

In response, hospitals across J&K have intensified efforts to organise public runs, walks and fitness events as strategic interventions in a growing health emergency. Kashmir’s harsh winters and increasingly sedentary routines have pushed overweight and obesity levels to alarming highs.

On Friday, a walkathon was held at SKIMS Soura to mark World Diabetes Day, with the Director of SKIMS joining the participants and running a symbolic distance. The event aimed to highlight how regular walking and running can help prevent and manage diabetes.

Dr Irfan Ahmed Bhat, a cardiologist at GMC Srinagar, said even small steps can spark major health improvements. “Start with a 10-minute walk, then gradually increase the pace and distance to reach 5,000 to 10,000 steps a day. Walking improves circulation, helps reduce weight and boosts overall fitness,” he said.

Obesity, he added, is often misinterpreted as a cosmetic issue, but it drives a cascade of chronic health problems.

A recent ICMR–INDIAB study conducted with SKIMS Soura paints a stark picture: 84.2 percent of adults in Kashmir lead physically inactive lifestyles—a steep rise from earlier estimates. Over 55 percent of the population falls into obese categories, with obesity rates rising nearly 250 percent since the 2010 SKIMS survey. Diabetes prevalence has climbed to 7.8 percent, accompanied by increased risks of hypertension, heart disease and other non-communicable diseases.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who recently joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national anti-obesity campaign, has been publicly advocating exercise and physical activity. He has participated in multiple marathons and emphasises the role of movement and lifestyle change in combating metabolic diseases.