San Francisco Frontiers - Kyrgyzstan bets on reality TV to tackle obesity crisis

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 practise a sport, according to official statistics. The programme, 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 kilogrammes (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.

Since taking office six years ago, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has made sport a key pillar of government policy, creating a separate state agency aimed at developing "physical culture".

The 57-year-old 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 football.

- 'Unfavourable dietary trends' -

Among the other programmes sponsored by the government is "New Breath", a reality TV show where overweight participants attempt to lose weight.

In Kyrgyzstan, 26.6 percent of adults are obese, far above the global average of 15.8 percent, according to the latest World Health Organization data from 2022.

A Kyrgyz study from March 2026 pointed to "unfavourable dietary trends within the population".

The national cuisine is rich in meat and dairy, while lacking in fruit and vegetables.

For centuries, central Asian nomadic cuisine has prioritised high-calorie dishes to cope with the harsh climate of the steppes and mountains, where cereals are scarce.

A recent shift towards 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," the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) said in a 2024 report.

- Facilities lacking -

Obesity disproportionately affects women in the region, the IFPRI reported, in part because they are locked out of male-dominated sports.

"There are lot of barriers," said Elena Lyzhina-Polchenkova, head of the Kyrgyz Triathlon Federation.

"Men and women are both coming home from work, but the women have more to do: they have to prepare a meal, possibly pick up their child, clean, do the washing and clean up," she added.

"This reality show will demonstrate how a person can grow and manage to combine sports with everyday routine, at work and in the family."

But taking part in sport remains difficult for many.

The authorities have acknowledged that infrastructure is lacking, and are trying to invest so that the share of the population that practises sport regularly -- currently 15 percent -- doubles by 2030.

Gyms have begun springing up across the country.

Authorities are constructing what is set to be central Asia's largest stadium in the capital Bishkek, scheduled to open in August 2026.

But while the situation in Bishkek is improving, infrastructure is lacking in other regions.

"Given the population, the number of gyms and swimming pools is still insufficient," Lyzhina-Polchenkova said.

W.Carter--SFF