Obesity is linked to 229 diseases and may cut life expectancy by up to 11 years, say experts
KARACHI: Obesity is linked to as many as 229 diseases and may shorten life by five to 11 years, senior endocrinologists and medical specialists warned on Sunday, calling for early lifestyle changes and medically supervised treatment of the chronic condition. Fortunately, they said, Pakistan now had access to some of the world’s most affordable cutting-edge medicines and therapies for obesity,…
Karachi witnessed a Metabolic Health Forum attended by over 1,100 doctors from Sindh and beyond. Senior endocrinologists warned that obesity is connected to 229 diseases and may reduce life expectancy by five to 11 years. Dr Abbas Raza highlighted that obesity leads to or contributes to conditions like knee osteoarthritis in 52% of obese individuals, hypertension in 51%, sleep apnoea in 40%, fatty liver disease in 29%, heart attacks and diabetes in 21% each, and major depression in 19%.
He stressed that obesity is not merely an issue of appearance or willpower but results from urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles, sugary drinks, energy-dense foods, and limited physical activity. Pakistan currently has 25% of its population living with obesity, predominantly women and children. Experts emphasised the importance of early lifestyle changes and medically supervised treatment.
The country benefits from affordable, cutting-edge medicines and therapies for obesity, diabetes, and related complications. Dr Raza mentioned that semaglutide, a GLP-1 medicine, could help suitable patients alongside healthier diets, exercise, and long-term follow-up. Global data revealed that 34.5 million Pakistani adults have diabetes, with a prevalence of 31.4%.
Prof A.H. Amir explained that GLP-1 medicines function like a natural signal to control appetite and blood sugar, potentially proving cost-effective by preventing hospital admissions, disability, and expensive complications. Prof Saeed A. Mahar advised considering waist size, illnesses, and previous diet and exercise efforts in addition to body mass index.
Dr Faisal Masood Qureshi reported that Pakistan produces weight-control medicines meeting international quality standards, stressing uninterrupted supplies and safeguards against counterfeit products. The panel discussed benefits of semaglutide, including a 20% reduction in cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in the SELECT study and a 24% reduction in serious kidney outcomes in the FLOW study.
Experts warned against using semaglutide for unsupervised cosmetic weight loss and stressed the importance of healthier lifestyles, trained prescribers, affordable treatment, and protection against counterfeit medicines.
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