Obesity emerges as major health challenge
LAHORE: With estimated around 38 million Pakistanis are currently living with obesity, health professionals have called for treating obesity as a chronic disease and expanding access to medical and surgical care in Pakistan. According to WHO data, around 23pc of Pakistani adults were living with obesity, marking a 16.4pc increase over the previous decade. Model estimates show nearly 60pc of…
In Pakistan, an estimated 38 million people are currently grappling with obesity, prompting health professionals to treat it as a chronic condition and increase access to medical and surgical interventions. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, 23 percent of adult Pakistanis suffer from obesity, a 16.4 percent surge from a decade ago.
Projections suggest that nearly 60 percent of adults now fall into the overweight or obese category, with obesity rates having tripled in the last two decades. Obesity has become a significant public health concern in the country, disproportionately affecting women and urban residents. Among children, 40 percent are overweight or obese, and without current trends changing, 57 percent of Pakistani children could be obese by the age of 35.
WHO-backed STEPS survey identified low physical activity and insufficient fruit and vegetable intake as key risk factors for obesity. The organization classifies obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease associated with type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other non-communicable illnesses. To address this growing problem, Chisel Health concluded its Obesity Awareness Week with an Obesity Evening in Lahore, uniting patients, healthcare professionals, and community members to discuss awareness, education, and modern treatment options.
Speakers emphasized moving beyond the notion of obesity as merely a matter of lifestyle or willpower and stressed the need for personalized medical care and evidence-based treatments.
Dr. Tanveer Abbas, Pakistan's youngest bariatric surgeon with the highest surgical volume, is at the forefront of this evolving field. At Chisel Health, he runs a dedicated obesity-focused center offering comprehensive assessment and treatment. The center adopts a multidisciplinary approach to weight management, focusing on advanced bariatric surgery and weight loss procedures.
Dr. Abbas stated, "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."
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