Modi wants India to stay fit by ditching "fashionable" Fitbits and health apps

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Fit India Movement' today in celebration of National Sports Day.
• He also expressed how technology is the bane of fitness.
• He said that fitbits, pedometers and other digital fitness trackers are nothing more than a "fashion statement".

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants India to get fit but he doesn't think that technology can help them achieve it.

Many people use fitness apps and fitbits to help keep track of their health. But "that's the bane of fitness to begin with," Modi said in his speech while launching the ‘Fit India Movement' as the country celebrated National Sports Day.

Modi went ahead and quipped that Fitbits and other wearable fitness tech is nothing more than a "fashion statement".

Fitness gadgets gather dust, says Modi

"The irony that technology is the reason that people walk less yet they use phones as pedometers to keep track of how many steps they've taken in a day," Modi pointed out.

Mocking people who only talk about fitness and buy trending gadgets, Modi joked that the same people still need servants to help dust the machines and are never used. "Eventually, they get stored away some forgotten corner of the house," he said.

According to the Prime Minister who posts fitness videos of himself and is an advocate of yoga, believes that fitness apps are only temporary solutions since most users forget about them within a few days of installing them.

Instead, Modi advocates ‘normal exercise' like cycling and walking. His idea of staying fit is to not be obsessed with hitting a target of 2,000, 5,000 or 10,000 steps.

Technology isn't all bad

Modi's comments might not go down well with a thriving fitness and wearables market in India.

Last year, the country's wearables market grew at a healthy 17% and hit a million in shipments, according to IDC, as Indians show more interest in tracking their health and habits.

Even health trackers and diet apps are catching on in India providing users with a range of solutions from live fitness sessions to teaching new exercises.

A large number of Indian companies like GQii amongst others are focussing on this market. Most others are using cutting edge technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) which helps trainers devise and deliver personalised fitness options to users.

See also:
Modi launches fit India movement as the country battles its diabetes capital tag

These 13 yoga exercises are strongly recommended by PM Modi for physical, mental well-being

What it really means to be in shape, according to a fitness expert - and how to gauge how fit you are