Obesity on the rise in Pakistan, experts warn

Professor Dr Ejaz Vohra on Tuesday said obesity was an emerging challenge to the well-being of the people in Pakistan like it is in the other parts of the world. Pakistan has been ranked 9th out of 188 countries of most overweight people, he added.

He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club (KPC) in connection with the World Obesity Day to be observed today (Wednesday).

Dr Saiful haq and Nutritionist Saima Rasheed were also present on this occasion. Dr Vohra said women were 2-3 times more likely to be obese, while obesity in children is also increasing in the country.

He said that obesity had become a serious health problem worldwide, which was the result of an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. Vohra said obesity had been linked to several serious health ailments like heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and added that overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases.

Dr Saif ul haqm said overweight and obesity were largely preventable depending on the intake of healthier foods and regular physical activity. He said unhealthy life style was a major factor behind increasing obesity diseases in Pakistan. Saima Rasheed said overweight and lowweight children both might faces difficulties in their life. She said this disease was once considered a problem only in high income countries, overweight and obesity are now on the rise in low and middle-income countries. She said proper nutrition and regular physical activity were important for healthy society. She advised the people to adopt simple lifestyle and avoid spicy foods to save them from diseases like obesity.