Every fourth Pakistani is adult overweight
KARACHI: A study on prevalence of overweight and obesity and their association with hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Pakistan has shown that one in four Pakistani adults aged 15 years or over are overweight or obese according to the Asian-specific body mass index (BMI).
The study, conducted by Dr Tazeen H Jafar, Head, Section of Nephrology and Director, Clinical Epidemiology Unit of Aga Khan University, was based on the analysis of data from the National Health Survey of Pakistan.
Data from this study confirms that overweight and obesity are a major public health problem in Pakistan.
In addition, strong association was found between obesity as defined by these cutoffs and hypertension and diabetes in our population, highlighting the dangers of this under-recognised pandemic.
The association of lower BMI with these disease conditions in our population compared to higher levels of BMI for diagnosis of obesity means that Indo-Asian people are at a greater risk for chronic diseases at lower body weights, as compared to Europeans or Americans.
Thus, generally speaking, we need even stricter control of our body weight to lower targets than our non-Asian counterparts, the report says and adds that this is a potential cause of concern seeing the continued trend towards urbanisation which will cause adult levels of obesity to escalate.
According to the study, it seems paradoxical that an economically challenged country facing shortage of food would have a high burden of overweight people. However, the association of an unhealthy weight with economical deprivation is not so enigmatic.
Poor people have limited choices. Many consume large amounts of commercially available cheap, reused oil which is rich in hydrogenated fats and also very energy dense.
Further, with progressive industrialization in all sectors, life styles have become increasingly sedentary. Dr Jafar suggests that aiming for a target body weight based on Asian-specific targets and brisk walking for 30 minutes on at least four days a week. Forming walking groups help reinforce the habit.
She also suggests making changes in lifestyle and consuming a healthy diet consisting of seasonal vegetables and fruits and reducing the amount of oil and sugar in diet.
There is ample evidence that weight reduction will help prevent disabilities from strokes and heart attacks, she says.
Ismailimail 