Malnutrition, obesity among emerging issues

Speakers call for healthy choices on World Food Day

RAWALPINDI:

The speakers at a seminar on Wednesday said that both malnutrition and obesity are growing problems of the country.

While one in two Pakistanis is at risk of malnutrition with an estimated 36% people living below the poverty line, obesity is blamed for at least 58% deaths caused by non-communicable diseases, they said.

There is a need to develop policy for making healthy and nutrient rich foods available to people at affordable rates, said the speakers at the seminar held at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) to celebrate the World Food Day 2020 with a theme of "Grow, Nourish and Sustain Together" on Wednesday.

Government officials, agricultural scientists, faculty members, students, representatives of non-governmental organisations, progressive farmers from across the country participated in the programme.

The speakers also highlighted the importance of food, food production, food security, nutrition and stressed on the value addition of agriculture products to eradicate poverty and lead the country towards prosperity.

Women University Swabi VC Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi highlighted the emerging issue of obesity which is causing several non-communicable diseases and responsible for 58% deaths in the country. She said that a healthy body leads to a strong immune system which makes the body fight against diseases.

PMAS-AAUR VC Dr Qamar Zaman VC said there is a need to make small farmers aware of new agricultural technology and innovations.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2020.