'Late-night meals driving obesity surge'

Health expert urges greater public awareness and healthier lifestyle choices

ISLAMABAD:

A medical health expert has warned that reckless eating habits especially late-night online food ordering and excessive junk food consumption, are driving a worsening obesity crisis, stressing the urgent need for public awareness.

Speaking to a local media channel, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Pakistan Rashid Rafiq Butt expressed concern over the rising burden of obesity and said efforts are underway to strengthen private-public partnerships to address the growing health challenge.

He stressed that public awareness is key to preventing obesity, urging people to adopt healthier daily routines, especially starting the day with a nutritious breakfast to improve overall dietary balance and well-being.

He further pointed out that late-night food orders and the increasing reliance on packed and processed foods are major contributors to weight gain and related health complications, calling these habits a serious threat to public health.

Rashid Rafiq Butt emphasised that a collective effort involving individuals, healthcare professionals, and institutions is essential to promote healthier eating habits and curb the rising trend of obesity in the country.

Opening his remarks, Butt said that awareness about health risks is not limited to uneducated people, noting that even educated individuals, including himself, often overlook the quality of life they are leading. He stressed the need for broad-based health education across all segments of society.

He further said that parents have a key responsibility in shaping healthier future generations by adopting improved lifestyles today, urging families to make conscious choices that support long-term well-being.

Despite these challenges, he reaffirmed Novo Nordisk's commitment to remain in Pakistan, focusing not only on providing world-class medicines but also on supporting public awareness and prevention initiatives aimed at tackling obesity and related health issues.

He added that discussions are also underway with the government to recognise obesity as a disease, similar to practices in other countries, emphasizing that such a step would help strengthen national efforts to address the growing health burden.