R.M. Anjana appointed as chair of the International Diabetes Foundation working group on physical activity

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has announced the appointment of R.M. Anjana, managing director, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre and President of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), as the Chair of the IDF Working Group on Physical Activity. She will also lead the newly launched IDF ‘ACTIVE’ Initiative, a global program aimed at increasing physical activity across all age groups.

In this new role, Dr. Anjana will establish and guide an international consortium with experts from all IDF regions, ensuring global collaboration, regional diversity, and gender balance. With physical inactivity recognised as a major driver of noncommunicable diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and depression, the initiative seeks to address a growing crisis. Alarmingly, 81% of adolescents and 27.5% of adults worldwide do not meet WHO physical activity guidelines.

Peter Schwarz, president, International Diabetes Federation said increasing physical activity is key to preventing diabetes and improving global health, and the new leadership can help turn global evidence into real community action.

Dr. Anjana spoke about her vision to make physical movement a central part of preventive health. She referenced ongoing efforts such as THANDAV — a 10-minute dance-based HIIT routine for adolescent girls and women, along with future plans to promote active living across India through culturally appropriate, accessible, and sustainable programmes.

V. Mohan, chairman of Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, emphasised the importance of preventive health in diabetes management. He also highlighted the IDF ACTIVE Initiative, which will support this goal through fitness challenges, activity-scoring tools, and community programmes that promote active lifestyles worldwide.