The Health Ministry delivered 2 million pedometers nationwide last year to encourage the public to exercise because of concerns that obesity is taking hold in the country.

As a sedentary lifestyle has come to dominate the lives of millions, the government has escalated its campaign against obesity and relevant cardiovascular diseases. Hüsem Hatipoğlu, a senior official from the ministry, said they acquired two million pedometers last year and delivered them to state-run family clinics across the country for free distribution to citizens requesting the devices.

The device, which has sensors, a week-long memory to record the daily activities, and a calorie counter, is being used to motivate the stationary masses. "A person should take at least 10,000 steps a day for good health or should walk at least half an hour daily. We need to allocate time for walking. People may not have time for this, but they should at least take short walks on their midday breaks or while commuting," Hatipoğlu said. He said that daily life was dominated by technological devices that "facilitates work but also promotes a sedentary life and therefore, obesity."

He said obesity paves the way for chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, depression, liver diseases and diabetes. "Studies show only 30 percent of the population lead a non-sedentary life in Turkey while the remaining 70 percent barely engage in any physical activities or exercise. Sedentary life is especially common among women," he said. Hatipoğlu added that malnutrition also contributes to obesity.

The Health Ministry had recently launched a campaign to encourage weekend walks in public. Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu occasionally joins the walks along with medical personnel. A nationwide awareness campaign is also calling on the public to change their detrimental nutritional habits, to do fitness exercises, or at least take a short walk daily.

A survey among 600 children from across Turkey last year found that 12 percent of grade school students aged seven to 12 are overweight. Turkish children increasingly avoid physical activity, according to reports on obesity. Experts attribute high obesity figures to parents who do not exercise daily and set a bad example for their children. According to surveys, grade school students spent less than two hours outdoors on the weekends and even less time during the week. Increasing obesity rates are also attributed to more time spent watching television and other indoor activities.