Reality TV in Kyrgyzstan
For weeks 33-year-old civil servant Aizaratbek Esenov and half a dozen other government employees have been exercising in front of cameras for a reality TV show in Kyrgyzstan. Broadcast nationwide, they run, swim and train together, all with the aim of getting their bodies physically able to take part in the amateur Asia Triathlon Cup this Autumn. It may sound like a bizarre premise, but for the government — which is sponsoring the show — the goal is serious: to encourage Kyrgyz viewers to live healthier. Over a quarter of adults in the central Asian country are obese, while fewer than one in four practice any sport, according to official statistics. The program, named “New Path,” is part of a government-led push to tackle the problem.
“At first it was hard, I couldn’t run and I was short of breath,” Esenov told AFP, adding that he was used to “sitting in front of a computer from morning till night.” But since starting six weeks ago, “I’ve been losing weight, getting into shape and feel better,” he said, adding he had lost five 11 pounds so far. His coach, Igor Izmailov, makes sure the group stay consistent and keeps up with training. “This project will serve as an example to those who do not take up sport and lead a sedentary life,” he said. “Maybe all this will inspire them,” he added. The national cuisine is rich in meat and dairy, while lacking in fruit and vegetables. For centuries, central Asian nomadic cuisine has prioritized high-calorie dishes to cope with the harsh climate of the steppes and mountains, where cereals are scarce. A recent modern shift toward more processed foods has worsened the problem. “Micronutrient deficiencies are increasingly common, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity is rapidly rising in the region.” Obesity disproportionately affects women in the region. “This reality show will demonstrate how a person can grow and manage to combine sports with everyday routine, at work and in the family.”
Since taking office six years ago, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has made sport (exercise) a key pillar of government policy, creating a separate state agency aimed at developing “physical culture.” The 57-year-old president graduated from a sporting college following the collapse of the Soviet Union and has been keen to lead by example, appearing in photo shoots skiing or playing Soccer. Among the other programs sponsored by the government is “New Breath,” a reality TV show where overweight participants attempt to lose weight.
Exercising Levity
My friend tried to convince me that yoga is a workout…
I told him it’s a bit of a stretch.
I asked my girlfriend to meet me at the gym.
When she did not show up, I knew we weren’t going to workout.
I workout religiously.
About once or twice around the holidays.
I TRIED Chris Hemsworth’s workout regimen.
It works. I was really Thor for theveral days.
June 17th Birthdays
1980 – Venus Williams, 1987 – Marie Avgerpoulos, 1982 – Jodie Whittaker, 1997 – Taveeta
1994 – Amari Cooper, 1998 – K. J. Apa, 1946 – Barry Manilow, 1951- Joe Piscopo