We are a fat nation. That is what the epidemiological studies are saying. Modernity combined with long hours sitting or reclining while watching TV, playing video games, keeping up with our social media networks, snacking on cheap, addicting, high calorie food, eating fast or ready to use foods, and lack of adequate and regular exercise are collaborating to increase our fat cells and boost our waist and neck sizes.

There are areas in urban centers, including Chicago, that are devoid of healthy choices and designated as food deserts. These are districts with little or no access to foods needed to maintain a healthy diet but often served by plenty of fringe groceries, liquor stores and fast food restaurants. As grocery stores have withdrawn alongside residents that have fled to the suburbs. Low income families and senior citizens who remain either find healthy foods unavailable or inaccessible as a result of high prices and/or unreachable locations.

Many groceries in these areas are owned by people of different ethnic minorities. So you can find Korean, Chinese, Greek, Jewish, Muslim or Arab sounding names running groceries in inner cities, selling among other things, liquor and junk food, while lacking healthy and fresh food.

• Islam teaches us to be moderate in consumption, use healthy choices, conserve resources, avoid Alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs, treat our neighbors as families and prevent harm to anyone. The prophet recommended exercise for our children and encouraged us to stay strong and fit. He ate healthy and very lean diet. We are mandated to seek treatment for our illnesses and follow the recommendations of our doctors. As a general rule, Preventing Harm is more important than attracting benefit. Junk food, liquor, tobacco, high calorie cheap food and canned ready-to-use food are harm that we need to avoid, and we should provide healthy alternatives.
• Five Daily prayers, besides connecting to God and cleaning our spirit, are physical exercises that burn calories, stretch muscles and tendons, make joints more flexible, promote healthy postures of sitting and standing. Obesity makes it harder for Muslims to have good postures during prayer and have proper kneeling and prostration. Good postures and flexibility in joints and muscles are a prerequisite for good spiritual experience during prayer.
• Fasting in the month of Ramadan is a once a year opportunity to cut down on calorie intake and lose weight.
• Pilgrimage is a hard physical exercise that can only be enjoyed by physically able and fit.
• The prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged exercise, and asked Muslims to teach their children swimming, archery and horseback riding. It was reported that he used to jog and race with his wife Aisha while he was in his late fifties. He encouraged wrestling competitions among youth. He said, “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both.”
• Most of the companions were physically fit and strong, especially Hamza, Omar, Ali, Saad, Khaled, Aisha, Safeyya, Asma and many others. Female companions participated in defending the community during different battles. One of the female companions, Umm Umara, was instrumental in protecting the prophet’s life in the battle of Ohud, which indicates that women at the time of the prophet were exercising regularly and were very fit that they fought side by side with men and sometimes won over them in sport competitions.
• The Quran described the physical fitness and strength of many prophets, especially David, Suleiman, Moses and Joseph, and other Qur'anic figures.  

• Inner City Muslim Network, better known as IMAN, has launched “Muslim Run” campaign to promote health, wellness and healing in the “hood” through improving access to healthier food in “Food Deserts,” racial and ethnic healing and alternative business models.
• The HEART Women and Girls Project, in conjunction with Altmuslimah, is committed to empowering women and girls from faith-based communities by teaching them to connect a healthy mind, body, and soul to achieve an overall sense of well-being.

• On April 22, on our annual Muslim Action Day, more than 700 members of the Muslim Community led by the Council will gather in our State capitol advocating to support, among other issues, the recommendations of the Illinois Marketing Task Force of creating Fresh Food Fund, now being discussed by the General Assembly to support local supermarket development projects in low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods.