Bhamla Foundation brings together, Akshay Kumar-Raj Kumar Hirani for MCGM JaanBachao campaign

From the driver's seat to the office chair and then the comfy couch, sedentary lifestyle could well be the killer, avers a new Mayo Clinic study. Sitting could well be more dangerous than smoking, as it kills more people than HIV and is more treacherous than parachuting. Recent researches tag global figures on account of sedentary lifestyle deaths are an alarming  5.3m, terming it pandemic, equating to about one in 10 deaths from diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and breast and colon cancer. Habitual inactivity raises risks for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, deep-vein thrombosis, and metabolic syndrome among many others.Prolonged sitting adds up to six percent of all cases of coronary heart disease, about 7 percent of type 2 diabetes and 10 percent of breast and colon cancer; that is  5.3 million deaths per year, more than the 5 million lives lost annually to smoking.A new way of thinking, suggesting the public needed to be warned about the dangers of inactivity rather than just reminded of the benefits of being active seems to be the only possible solution in sight, aver researchers drawn from centres across the world, who feel that governments needed to look at ways to make physical activity more convenient, affordable and safer.Keeping this in mind, Asif Bhamla, President, Bhamla Foundation, has roped in Akshay Kumar as the MCGM’s good health ambassador by getting the superstar to bring to life, Jaanbachao campaign and wants every citizen not to be his own enemy and protect himself against diseases. Directed by Rajkumr Hirani, the campaign is a unique initiative by the foundation and MCGM.This Goodhealth campaign follows the TB Harega Desh Jeetega campaign with Bill Milanda Gates Foundation, featuring Amitabh Bachchan to essay character of the common man.Bhamla, who is known for his philanthrophic activities, is known for his support to environmental and humanitarian causes. The current campaign sees Akshay bring out the fitness consciousness is the common man, and will be launched by Devendra Fadnavis, Hon Chief Minister of Maharashtra.Says Rajkumar Hirani, “It is often that we ignore our health with overwork and stress coupled with a sedentary lifestyle. When Bhamla Foundation brought to me the idea of the MCGM campaign for Good Health, I was elated. It is a great move and I am glad we have a face like Akshay Kumar for the same. The idea is to make each of us stand up and let the sedentary lifestyle go and save ourselves before it is too late. I enjoyed the making as much as I wish we change mindsets with this video.”Adds Asif Bhamla, “we lose health for half our lives earning wealth, and the other half we lose wealth to get good health. This campaign aims to shake us from our couch potato roots and get us to get out there and do something now. Who else could be a perfect ambassador than Akshay Kumar? And when it came to direction, we could think of no one better than Rajkumar Hirani. I am glad, both agreed and the Chief Minister is gracious enough to give the nod to launch the same. We hope this campaign goes a long way in helping not just Mumbaikars but each global citizen stay healthy.”Considering that researchers estimate that if only 10 per cent of those who are currently inactive started to exercise, 533,000 lives would be saved; if 25 per cent began moving, 1.3 million deaths could be averted, with just 30 minutes of brisk walking or cycling five days a week, we would like this initiative to surely make a difference.