Why HR biggie Adil Nargolwala ran a marathon in Gurgaon in workwear: Wanted to raise awareness on sedentary lifestyle risks

Corporate biggie Adil Nargolwala, who is the Corporate SVP – Head Talent Acquisition at a leading company, is also an Ironman and Ultraman finisher. He recently ran at a marathon in Gurgaon in his corporate attire. Why, we ask? Adil, who also tweeted about it, says, “A colleague in my team lost his brother recently, who collapsed and died of heart failure. Then he got a heart check-up done, and the results were shocking. Two of his arteries were found with 90% and 95% blockage. We immediately got him admitted to a hospital and after two stents, he got back home. When I registered for this marathon, I decided to send across a message on the importance of health and fitness, so I ran in my corporate attire.”

‘Corporates on the go often neglect their health’
Adding that he wanted to highlight the health hazards work stress brings with it, Adil says, “Senior executives in corporate setups lead hectic lives. Often, basic nutritious food is lacking in their diet due to frequent travel and catching a quick bite on the go. With that level of stress and hectic lifestyle, people cannot afford to take their health lightly. I wanted to highlight the adverse effect of sedentary lifestyle on our health and the importance of
a simple health check-up in preventing any future complications.”
“Many people are still working from home, which restricts their movement. Even if people have to go somewhere, they mostly use the car. Moreover, everything is available at the click of a button on our phones, with everything being home-delivered. That’s why it is all the more important to stay agile and active. You cannot wait for something to happen to you to take your health seriously,” he shares.
‘Preventive health check-ups allow timely intervention’
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of maintaining good health to fight diseases. “Sedentary lifestyle and work pressure have made individuals more susceptible to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Regular health check-ups can help identify these conditions at an early stage, allowing timely intervention. It also helps in reducing healthcare costs and increasing employee productivity,” says Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, from a hospital in Delhi.

Dietary and lifestyle changes to improve health