Global Diabetes Walk 

A Global Diabetes Walk extending over seven continents brought together nearly 70,000 people in a world wide campaign to raise awareness of diabetes. The message was simple: physical inactivity is one of the main reasons for the epidemic growth of diabetes.
The Global Diabetes Walk was initiated by the World Diabetes Foundation to encourage people all over the world to take more exercise, thereby supporting this year’s theme for World Diabetes Day: “Fight Obesity, Prevent Diabetes”. According to health experts, 30 minutes of “brisk walking” five days a week is enough to change the unhealthy trend and fight world obesity.   From Afghanistan to Antarctica The Global Diabetes Walk is the largest event of its type ever staged, and the initiative met with impressive support from people all over the world. In total, the Global Diabetes Walk consisted of 561 individually organised walks taking place simultaneously in 53 countries across seven continents. The number of participating walkers reached 68,532 thanks to impressive campaigning by Novo Nordisk, a partner on this activity, and its affiliates and by local diabetes organisations.
World Diabetes Day, November 14th 2004, China
Walkers included staff from the British Antarctic Survey in Antarctica, health ministry officials from many countries, employees at the United Nations, the US Department of Health and Human Services in Afghanistan, and thousands of ordinary people from all over the world.  As one participant concluded: “What makes the Global Diabetes Walk special is the sense of partnership, which stretches across borders, time zones, cultures and organisations. Ordinary people helping themselves and others – on a global scale.” said Gary Abram, Project Manager for the World Diabetes Foundation. Over one billion overweight adults worldwide The increase in diabetes is largely due to a trend towards physically inactive lifestyles in both developed and developing countries. According to WHO, approximately 2 million deaths around the world are attributable to physical inactivity each year. Urbanisation and economic growth are resulting in more people undertaking less physically demanding work and more passive leisure pursuits. The dramatic reduction in our levels of activity is part of the explanation for higher obesity rates across the world. Poor diet is another. With more than 1 billion overweight adults worldwide, of whom at least 300 million are obese; obesity is in fact a threat to global health. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of chronic diseases, including type-2 diabetes, and leading health experts and organisations have recognised that physical activity as disease prevention is as important as quitting smoking, eating healthily and lowering cholesterol.
Global Diabetes Walk 561 large-scale and small-scale walks 53 countries 7 continents 68,582 participants   Facts on obesity (WHO) Physical inactivity causes 2 million deaths annually.  The number of overweight adults worldwide has reached 1 billion.  At least 300 million of these are obese.