Pakistan is one of those countries where obesity and diabetes are increasing at an alarming rate, Dr Rizwana Waraich, assistant professor at the Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), said on Saturday. “One out of every four Pakistanis is either obese or overweight,” she added.
She was delivering a lecture on obesity-related diseases and their prevention at the Latif Ebrahim Jamal National Science Information Centre.
Dr Waraich was of the view that overweight and obesity are the fifth leading risk for global deaths. At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese. “Five out of 10 fatal diseases are associated with obesity, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.”
Dr Waraich said that obesity is not just a cosmetic problem, it is a health hazard. “This is because obesity has been linked to several serious health ailments like heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.”
She pointed out that overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer; once considered a problem only in high income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low and middle-income countries.
“Our nation is now facing a double burden of disease, as we continue to deal with the problems of infectious disease and under-nutrition; we are experiencing a rapid upsurge in non-communicable disease risk factors such as obesity and overweight, particularly in urban settings.”
She said the fundamental causes of obesity are an increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat, salt and sugars but low in vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients; and a decrease in physical activity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation and increasing urbanisation.
“Overweight and obesity are largely preventable; the intake of healthier foods and regular physical activity are easiest ways to prevent obesity.”
Dr Waraich said the obesity level among rural areas in Pakistan is found to be nine percent in males and 14 percent in women, while in the urban areas, the situation is quite alarming as the obesity level is found to be 22 percent in men and 37 percent in women.
“The higher obesity level in urban areas is due to their changing lifestyle, high fat and carbohydrate-rich diet and lake of exercise.”
