Society for Promotion of Physical Activity and Health (SPPAH)

Disease pattern in India is undergoing rapid structural changes over last two-three decades with a sudden increased burden of NCDs. If the necessary steps, to tackle the menace of these NCDs will not be taken at present we will have to pay hefty price in terms of human suffering, disability, mortality, loss of productive man power including heavy economic impact on the families and communities etc. The promising aspect is that most of these illnesses are lifestyle related and preventable too in most of the cases. Physical inactivity is one of the most important determinants in causation of NCDs. Physical activity is confused with exercise by many and less people understand that it refers to all physical movement including that during leisure time, for transport, to get to and from places, or as part of a person’s work. As per WHO, physical activity as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and manage NCDS such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and several cancers. It also helps prevent hypertension, maintain healthy body weight and can improve mental health, quality of life and well- being of a person. Physical activity enhances thinking, learning, and judgment skills along with overall well-being. With all these points in mind, 18 health professionals form different specialities of medical field like Community Medicine, General Medicine, Neurology, Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine came together and formed this association “Society for promotion of Physical Activity and Health” [SPPAH] to generate awareness about scientific and evidence-based methods and life style changes to safeguard ourselves from these NCDs with a focus on Physical Activity Promotion among masses. Our main aims are to generate scientific evidence, to do advocacy for physical activity promotion among stakeholders and also to generate awareness in masses to promote “Physical Activity” and other evidence-based methods as a measure to fight NCDs. We envision an India, where young age mortality due to these NCDs is minimal, everybody has enough knowledge about possible ways to remain healthy and remain protected, up to the maximum extent from NCDs, everybody is empowered and enabled to lead a healthy and productive life and functional capacity remains preserved even in the later years of life for each and every citizen of India.