Pakistan world’s ninth most obese country

Seminar held to launch web portal to help patients

KARACHI: Pakistan stands at number nine among the world's most obese nations, Dow University of Health Sciences' Dr Masood Jawaid said during a lecture at Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) on Wednesday.

Jawaid, an assistant professor of surgery and in-charge of e-learning at the varsity, was addressing PCMD's 36th public awareness seminar, titled 'Fight Obesity- Web Portal'.



"Obesity if one of the fastest growing diseases worldwide and it is estimated that 1.7 billion people worldwide are either overweight or obese," he informed.

FightObesity.Info is Pakistan's first patient portal that will create awareness about the importance of fitness and maintain a healthy lifestyle among people who are suffering from obesity in Pakistan."

He explained that obesity is linked to a wide range of health problems, including diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure and indigestion.



Jawaid added that the fundamental causes of being overweight and obese are genetics, overeating, a diet high in simple carbohydrates, frequency of eating and physical inactivity.

The seminar was jointly organised by PCMD and Virtual Education Project Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2016.