Pakistan Faces Alarming Health Crisis as Obesity Rates Surge, Experts Warn
Pakistan is facing a deepening public health emergency due to a rising obesity crisis, which is contributing to early deaths in men, increasing infertility among women, and chronic illnesses in children, health professionals warned at a recent awareness event.
Experts at a health camp hosted by the Karachi Press Club and Getz Pharma described obesity as the main driver of non-communicable diseases, noting that over 80% of adults in Pakistan have unhealthy waistlines, putting them at risk of obesity-related complications.
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Dr. Asma Ahmed, an endocrinologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, revealed that 35% of women and 28% of children in the country are obese, with more than 80% of adults showing signs of abdominal obesity. She stressed the need to treat obesity as a medical condition tied to issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and infertility. Poor diet, late-night habits, and lack of exercise in children were highlighted as major contributors to the crisis.
“Our children are both overweight and undernourished,” she said, warning that untreated obesity and hypertension could lead to severe organ damage. She also urged families to shift to home-cooked meals and reduce dependence on processed foods.
Dr. Nazish Butt from JPMC emphasized that obesity is a serious illness fueling diseases like cardiovascular conditions and strokes. She noted that urban areas, especially Karachi, are witnessing a sharp rise in obesity due to sedentary lifestyles and high consumption of frozen and junk food.
The awareness camp provided free checkups for journalists and their families. Attendees included key representatives from the Karachi Press Club and Getz Pharma.
Dr. Wajiha Javed, a public health expert at Getz Pharma, shared findings from the Pak Sehat demographic survey—South Asia’s first mini Framingham study—which found that over 80% of women and 70% of men in Pakistan are obese. Around half of the adult population also suffers from high blood pressure, and one in three has diabetes.
To combat the crisis, she introduced PREACH, a nationwide three-year program focusing on screenings, public education, and referrals through community health workers. Dr. Wajiha also highlighted the availability of new weight-loss treatments in Pakistan, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, for patients with a BMI over 30, or over 27 with associated health issues.
Through its Med One initiative, Getz Pharma plans to work with medical professionals to raise awareness and encourage routine health checkups across the country.
