Beyond the Podium How fitness centres and healthcare institutions in Manipur are tackling rising cases of obesity

Boro Laipubam
For decades, Manipur has been celebrated as the Nation's athletic powerhouse, renowned for its prowess in sports from the traditional Mukna (traditional wrestling) to modern football and boxing. Yet, beneath this legacy of physical vigour, a silent public health crisis is surging. In urban hubs like Imphal and other hill stations, rising obesity rates are fast becoming a major concern, fuelled by shifting dietary habits, increasingly sedentary lifestyles, and the pressures of modern living.
This epidemic is far from superficial, obesity acts as an engine, accelerating life-altering conditions like hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and depression, contributing to rising mortality across age groups. Compounding the problem are longer screen times, the digital era's sedentary pull, and even structural issues like heavy school bags, leading to early orthopaedic challenges. Long working hours, poor stress management, and economic con- straints that limit access to healthy diets are further entwined in this complex web.
The Alarming Numbers
The gravity of the situation is underscored by recent National data. According to the Women and Men in India 2024 report, based on NFHS-5 (National Family Health Survey) findings, Manipur is witnessing one of the fastest rises in obesity in the country.
Among women aged 15-49 years, 34.1 per cent are overweight or obese, far exceeding the National average of 24 per cent and placing Manipur second in the North East. Obesity among men is also climbing steadily, mirroring an unsettling National trend. Even more concerning is the increase in overweight children under five years of age showing clear upward patterns.
Between NFHS-4 (National Family Health Survey) and NFHS-5 (National Family Health Survey), Manipur recorded a staggering 9.33 per cent increase in obesity prevalence, placing it among India’s top five fastest-growing obesity hotspots.
The paradox is painful: a State known for producing elite athletes is now seeing its younger generation drifting away from physical activity, increasingly absorbed by digital screens and online gaming, often unaware of the long-term health consequences. Traditional social gatherings, too, are sometimes reinforcing unhealthy norms, with excessive alcohol consump- tion gaining social acceptance.
Fitness Centres: A New Public Health Frontline
Amid this crisis, an unexpected but powerful ally has emerged. Beyond hospitals and clinics, Manipur’s expanding network of fitness centres is becoming a critical frontline in the fight against obesity.
As of October 2025, approximately 327 gyms and fitness centres operate across the State, largely concentrated in Imphal but steadily extending outward. Far from being mere bodybuilding spaces, these centres have evolved into community-based wellness hubs offering zumba, yoga, physiotherapy, sauna thera- py, and nutritional counselling. Some even host visi- ting medical professionals, blending preventive care with professional oversight.
Notably, the rise of gyms and aerobic groups is creating safe for women, inclusive spaces that challenge long-standing social barriers and encourage broader participation in physical activity.
Perhaps their greatest strength lies in behavioural transformation. Group workouts foster motivation, accountability, and social supportelements often absent in conventional medical settings. These spaces now attract not only young adults but office workers, homemakers, and senior citizens, signalling a growing shift toward preventive healthcare.
Many fitness centres are also extending their impact beyond their walls through school awareness sessions, free community workouts, and corporate wellness programmes, amplifying public health education at the grassroots level.
The Hospital–Fitness Partnership
Hospitals remain the essential backbone for diagnosing and medically managing obesity with a holistic, preventive care model and its related syndromes. However, doctors universally stress that medication alone is insufficient; sustainable recovery hinges on daily lifestyle changes.
This is where fitness centres play a unique and com- plementary role. They offer structured routines, regular engagement, and professional supervision, support systems hospitals cannot provide on a daily basis. Increasing collaboration between doctors, physio- therapists, and certified trainers is enabling the development of safe, customised exercise programmes for patients with diabetes, hypertension, and joint disorders.
The Road Ahead
The path is not without obstacles. Access remains inequitable, with rural areas lacking facilities and trained instructors. Cost can also be a barrier. The way forward lies in strategic collaboration between fitness entre- preneurs, healthcare institutions, and local authoritiesto develop affordable, community-based programs, aware- ness and wellness centres that reach every corner of Manipur.
In the long run, the battle against obesity in Manipur may not be won solely in hospital wards. It will be fought on treadmills, yoga mats, and community fitness floors, where the state’s innate athletic spirit is being rekindledone workout, and one transformed life, at a time.
The writer is with Babina Hospital, Khabeisoi