Experts call for medical approach to obesity
Experts call for medical approach to obesity
Health professionals urge wider access to evidence-based treatment as Pakistan faces rising obesity rates
Our CorrespondentAugust 31, 20261 min readPakistan is witnessing a sharp rise in obesity. WHO data for 2022 showed that 23% of Pakistani adults were living with obesity. PHOTO: ET
With more than one billion people living with obesity worldwide, health experts on Sunday called for recognising obesity as a chronic disease and expanding access to medical and surgical treatment in Pakistan
The experts were speaking at an Obesity Evening, which brought together healthcare professionals, patients and community members to discuss obesity awareness, prevention and modern treatment options
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 43% of adults worldwide were overweight in 2022, while 16% were living with obesity — more than twice the rate recorded in 1990
Pakistan is witnessing a sharp rise in obesity. WHO data for 2022 showed that 23% of Pakistani adults were living with obesity, representing a 16.4% increase over the previous decade. Modeled estimates suggest that nearly 60% of adults are now overweight and around 25% are obese, with obesity rates having more than tripled over the past two decades
Health experts estimate that around 38 million Pakistanis are currently living with obesity, with women and urban populations disproportionately affected
The situation is also worsening among children, with an estimated 40% classified as overweight or obese. Projections suggest that 57% of Pakistani children could be obese by the age of 35 if current trends continue
A WHO-supported STEPS survey has identified low levels of physical activity and inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables among key risk factors. The WHO classifies obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other non-communicable diseases
Health experts estimate that around 38 million Pakistanis are currently living with obesity, with women and urban populations disproportionately affected. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Speakers at the event stressed the need to move away from treating obesity as simply a matter of lifestyle or willpower, calling instead for personalised medical care and evidence-based interventions
Dr Tanveer Abbas, a bariatric surgeon, said obesity should no longer be viewed as a failure of willpower. “We need to stop seeing obesity as a failure of willpower. It is a chronic disease. With the right medical and surgical support, patients can achieve long-term health outcomes, not just weight loss,” he said
Chisel Health, which orgainsed the event, said it had established an obesity-focused centre offering comprehensive assessment and treatment through a multidisciplinary approach, including bariatric surgery and other weight-management procedures
Experts said rising obesity rates across generations underscored the need for greater public awareness, early intervention and wider access to effective treatment
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