Worrisome waistlines: Experts warn of rise in obesity in Pakistan
The sedentary lifestyle in urban areas adds the extra pounds.
KARACHI:
Obesity and diabetes are growing at an alarming rate in Pakistan - one in every four Pakistanis is overweight. A quarter of the country must hit the gym fast, as ten fatal diseases are associated with obesity, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
A lecture titled ‘Obesity - Related diseases and prevention’ was held at the video conferencing hall of the Latif Ebrahim Jamal National Science Information Centre on Saturday to spread awareness about this growing problem. The event was jointly organised by the Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) and Virtual Education Project Pakistan.
An expert at the PCMD, Dr Rizwana Wariach, stressed that obesity is not just a cosmetic issue but a health problem that must be dealt with seriously. Excessive weight 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, obesity is now dramatically increasing in low- and middle-income countries, she said. The country is facing a ‘double burden’ of disease, as it continues to be plagued by numerous infectious diseases as well as under-nutrition, and now it is experiencing a rapid upsurge in non-communicable disease risk factors such as obesity, particularly in urban settings.
“Obesity levels in rural areas are around 9% in men and 14% in women. In the urban areas, the obesity level is around 22% in men and 37% in women, which is quite worrisome,” said Dr Wariach. “The higher obesity levels in cities are due to the lifestyle in these areas, where people don’t get enough exercise and eat too much high fat and carbohydrate-rich food.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2011.
Obesity and diabetes are growing at an alarming rate in Pakistan - one in every four Pakistanis is overweight. A quarter of the country must hit the gym fast, as ten fatal diseases are associated with obesity, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
A lecture titled ‘Obesity - Related diseases and prevention’ was held at the video conferencing hall of the Latif Ebrahim Jamal National Science Information Centre on Saturday to spread awareness about this growing problem. The event was jointly organised by the Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) and Virtual Education Project Pakistan.
An expert at the PCMD, Dr Rizwana Wariach, stressed that obesity is not just a cosmetic issue but a health problem that must be dealt with seriously. Excessive weight 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, obesity is now dramatically increasing in low- and middle-income countries, she said. The country is facing a ‘double burden’ of disease, as it continues to be plagued by numerous infectious diseases as well as under-nutrition, and now it is experiencing a rapid upsurge in non-communicable disease risk factors such as obesity, particularly in urban settings.
“Obesity levels in rural areas are around 9% in men and 14% in women. In the urban areas, the obesity level is around 22% in men and 37% in women, which is quite worrisome,” said Dr Wariach. “The higher obesity levels in cities are due to the lifestyle in these areas, where people don’t get enough exercise and eat too much high fat and carbohydrate-rich food.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2011.