8KM HEALTH WALK PROGRAM IN THE DISTRICTS OF TAMIL NADU: AN OVERVIEW OF THE WALKERS NCD

Abstract


The Government of Tamil Nadu is proactively addressing the rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) by introducing measures such as establishing "health walk pathways" across the state. Physical activity is recognized as a significant risk factor for NCDs, and the World Health Organization recommends individuals aged 18 years and above engage in 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. This secondary data analysis aims to profile the NCD status of participants in health walks. Among the 19,910 individuals screened for Hypertension and Diabetes, 66% were found to be normal, while 26% were known to have either Hypertension or Diabetes. Moreover, 8% of participants were newly diagnosed with either Hypertension, Diabetes, or both. These findings underscore the importance of proactive measures in NCD prevention and highlight the potential role of novel community-based initiatives that help in modifying the risk factors of non communicable diseases

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