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AS NON-COMMUNICABLE diseases continue to rise across Bangladesh, an alarming truth is coming into focus: doctors themselves are increasingly at risk. Heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and stroke, often preventable through lifestyle changes, are no longer conditions affecting only the general population. Healthcare professionals, long seen as the guardians of public health, are now facing the same silent threats.

Recent studies offer a sobering glimpse into the health of medical practitioners. One survey published in the Journal of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons revealed that nearly one in three Bangladeshi doctors suffer from hypertension or prehypertension, many without even knowing it. The causes are neither surprising nor unique — long shifts, minimal rest and a clinical environment that is often physically and mentally sedentary. In another study, approximately 40 per cent of resident doctors and senior officers were found to engage in minimal physical activity, significantly increasing their risk of obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.

This phenomenon is not confined to Bangladesh. Globally, urban healthcare workers face similar obstacles — packed schedules, high stress and few safe or convenient spaces for regular movement. Yet here in Bangladesh, the scale of the challenge is uniquely urgent. According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases are responsible for 67 per cent of all deaths in the country. That figure is set to rise.

It is an uncomfortable paradox: those entrusted with preserving public health are among the least likely to access preventive care themselves. While they treat thousands each year, many physicians neglect their own well-being — an oversight that could have broader implications for the entire health system. When the caregivers fall ill, the ripple effects can be far-reaching.

But there is hope and it lies in something remarkably simple: movement. A growing body of scientific evidence confirms that regular physical activity — at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week — can slash the risk of heart disease by up to 40 per cent, type-2 diabetes by 30 per cent and even alleviate symptoms of depression. For doctors, regular activity can do more than safeguard personal health; it can also enhance professional effectiveness. Research shows that patients are more likely to adopt active lifestyles when encouraged by visibly healthy, active physicians.

Why does this matter now? Because medical professionals are not machines — they are humans, vulnerable to the same health pitfalls as those they treat. A daily 30-minute brisk walk, five days a week, can lower the risk of heart disease by up to 35 per cent. That’s a message worth repeating, especially to those whose daily routines are dominated by ward rounds and clinic hours.

Physiatrists — specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation — are emerging as key advocates in this space. They are helping shift the narrative by urging doctors to prioritise their own health, not as an indulgence, but as a responsibility. A healthier medical community can better serve the public. In this spirit, the recent awareness efforts in Dhaka quietly reinforced a vital truth: health advice rings truer when it is embodied, not just spoken.

Subtle yet consistent reminders like these — embedded in professional gatherings and community initiatives — signal a cultural change in the making. Encouraging doctors to incorporate movement into their routines is not about athleticism or competitive sport. It is about sustainability. It is about living long enough to care well — and about being credible when advising others to do the same.

Preventing disease does not always require complex interventions or expensive medicine. Sometimes, it begins with a simple walk, a stretch between shifts, or a conscious decision to prioritise well-being. The message is simple: when doctors take steps, literally and figuratively, to protect their health, they lead by example. And in doing so, they move the nation in a healthier direction.

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Professor Md Taslim Uddin is the executive president of Bangladesh Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.