Chronic obesity in Pakistan is emerging as a silent killer, with health experts revealing that more than 100 million adults in the country are now overweight or obese. This situation put Pakistan at the edge of a major health crisis.
Experts, both from Pakistan and abroad said obesity is driving an alarming increase in diabetes, heart disease, strokes, cancers, infertility and sleep disorders. They warned that the country could face an unprecedented health emergency if no immediate action is taken.
Dr. Waseem Hanif, a Professor of Diabetes and Endocrinology at the University of Birmingham, explained that around 2.5 billion adults worldwide are overweight, with one billion already obese. He pointed out that while the ideal BMI is 18–25, for South Asians it should ideally be around 23.
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Prof. Saleem Qureshi, Head of Medicine at KRL Hospital Islamabad, warned that if trends remain unchecked, over half of Pakistani children could be obese by the time they reach 35. Supporting this view, Prof. Jamal Zafar stressed the role of doctors in guiding people toward exercise and balanced diets.
Experts agreed that obesity in Pakistan needs immediate attention to prevent a national health disaster.
