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 adults are now overweight and 25pc are obese with obesity rates having more than tripled in 20 years. Obesity has emerged as a major public health challenge in Pakistan. Health experts estimate around 38 million Pakistanis are currently living with obesity, with women and urban residents disproportionately impacted. Among children, 40pc are overweight or obese, and projections warn that 57pc of Pakistani children could be obese by age 35, if current trends continue. A WHO-supported STEPS survey previously found low physical activity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption to be significant risk factors. The WHO also classifies obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease linked to type-2 diabetes; cardiovascular disease, and other non-communicable diseases. Against this backdrop, Chisel Health concluded its Obesity Awareness Week with an Obesity Evening in Lahore, bringing together patients, healthcare professionals and community members for discussions on awareness, education and modern treatment options. Speakers highlighted the need to move away from viewing obesity as solely a matter of lifestyle or willpower, and stressed the importance of personalized medical care and evidence-based treatment. At the forefront of this evolving field is Dr. Tanveer Abbas, recognized as Pakistan’s youngest bariatric surgeon with the highest surgical volume. Through Chisel Health, Dr. Abbas has established a dedicated obesity-focused centre where patients receive comprehensive assessment and treatment under one roof. The centre offers a multidisciplinary approach to weight management, with a focus on advanced bariatric surgery and weight loss procedures. Dr. Tanveer Abbas said, “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.” Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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