Saffet Sancaklı reveals number of obese MPs: 'Out of 600 MPs...'

Taking the floor during the 2025 budget negotiations for the Ministry of Youth and Sports at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), MHP Kocaeli MP Saffet Sancaklı stated that one of Turkey's biggest problems is obesity. 

Sancaklı stated that according to 2024 research, 32.1% of the population over the age of 15 is obese and 34.6% is overweight, meaning that a total of 66.7% of society faces weight issues.

Touching upon the situation in the TBMM, Sancaklı said, "400 out of 600 MPs are obese or overweight."

'WE LACK A SPORTS CULTURE'

Emphasizing that Turkey is a sedentary society, Sancaklı listed the two main causes of obesity as follows: poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle. Stating that a sports culture needs to be popularized, Sancaklı said, "Our physical, psychological, and social problems stem from a sedentary lifestyle. We must instill the habit of sports from a young age."

20-YEAR SPORTS AND ARTS PROJECT 

Sancaklı proposed an education model focused on sports and arts. According to this model, children starting primary school will be introduced to both a sport and an artistic activity, and this habit will continue through their high school and university years. During this process, children will become healthy individuals both physically and mentally.

Sancaklı summarized the goals of the project as follows:

Integrating young people who play sports into national teams.

Steering them away from bad habits such as drugs and alcohol.

Reducing healthcare expenditures through healthy generations.

'MINISTRY OF HEALTH BUDGET COULD DECREASE'

Stating that a large portion of Turkey's health budget is spent on problems caused by inactivity, Sancaklı said, "The quality of our hospitals is very high, but we still encounter queues even at midnight. It is in our hands to change this picture."