Experts stress simple lifestyle, exercise to avoid obesity

LAHORE

The medical experts have observed that obesity is the underlying cause of various diseases of diabetes, heart, kidneys, lungs and bones. Overeating, lack of exercise and hormones among certain individuals are major causes of obesity among people. 

“People need to adopt a simple lifestyle, eat healthy food and exercise daily to avoid obesity and that will help prevent different diseases,” said the experts while speaking at a seminar on “Obesity – How to prevent it” organised by Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society (Jang Group of Newspapers) and Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES) at a local hotel on Sunday. 

They said the extra fats in the body caused obesity, which are produced by unhealthy diet, oily food, cold drinks, junk food, etc., therefore people must take balanced diet to stay fit and healthy. Presently, one fourth of world’s population is obese and it is feared that half of world’s population will become obese by 2030. Pakistan stands 9t in the world with reference to prevalence of obesity. The obese population in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh is also suffering from sugar and blood pressure.

Prof Dr Saeed A Mehr, President PES, said that obesity is a symbol of many diseases therefore people must adopt preventive measures to avoid obesity. He said the obesity in Pakistan had unusually increased during last one decade or so. He said Pakistan ranked 9th in prevalence of obesity, saying if Pakistanis didn’t act to prevent obesity then a high percentage of country’s population would become obese in the next few years. “Every 5th person in Pakistan is obese,” he added. He also clarified that obesity was not a symbol of health rather a disease, therefore, obesity should be a treated as a disease and treated like a disease.

He said the extra fat in body caused obesity, saying one in every five children born was obese. “The causes of obesity vary in each individual,” he said, adding every person should indulge in physical exercise and use fruits and vegetables to prevent obesity.

Prof Dr Ali Jawa, Vice President PES, said Body Mass Index (BMI) was a measure of observing obesity, which helps in controlling the weight in proportion to the height. He said the obesity had assumed the proportions of an epidemic, saying that diseases caused due to obesity were fatal. “No one can stop old age, but certain precautions in lifestyles can make the old age better,” he added. He said: “Our food had transformed during the last 10 years as even children were becoming obese and cardiac patients”. He said the entire weight of an obese person was borne by the bones and the person becomes unable to move, which further increases his/her weight. He advised people to use simple food, and add fruits and vegetables in their menu. Senior columnist Munnoo Bhai said the market foods were fast gaining currency in Pakistan, which was dangerous for the health. Besides, the growing ignorance was contributing to development of unhealthy habits among people.

Dr Syed Abbas Raza, President South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies (SAFES), said lack of awareness was a biggest cause of late diagnosis of diseases, which aggravated the diseases beyond cure. He urged the masses to eat healthy in moderate quantity and do regular exercise to avoid obesity and prevent many diseases. Prof Dr AH Amir, Vice President SAFES, said that obesity is also a cause of depression, infertility and blood pressure. He said the fat cells increase with initial increase in weight, but when weight further grows then those fat cells start growing in size instead of further production of fat cells.

Dr Faisal Masood Qureshi, General Secretary American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Pakistan chapter, expressed concern over minimum number of parks and playgrounds, which was minimising the trend of physical activity and thus increasing obesity among the people. Besides, TV anchorperson Alia Shabbir and others spoke on the occasion. MKRMS Chairman Wasif Nagi conducted the seminar.