Islamabad:
Health experts have expressed a deep concern about the alarming increase in obesity and depression among the young people of Pakistan, revealing that approximately 38 million people throughout the country are affected by obesity.
The problem focused on a seminar entitled “unprecedented associations for a healthier tomorrow”, with the aim of increasing public awareness and promoting collaboration efforts to combat obesity in Pakistan.
When addressing the seminar, Jakob Linulf, Denmark Ambassador to Pakistan, stressed the vital role of associations to address global health challenges such as obesity.
“Addressing obesity requires collective action. Danish companies such as Novo Nordisk are significantly contributing to the Pakistan health panorama. I am sure that this collaboration will leave a positive impact lasting on public health in Pakistan. A unified strategy is essential to counteract the growing threat of chronic diseases such as obesity,” he said.
Dr. Javed Akram, president of the Internal Medicine Society of Pakistan, highlighted the seriousness of the problem, stating: “Almost 38 million people in Pakistan currently live with obesity, a condition now recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization. Its impact extends beyond individual well -being, which raises significant challenges for public health infrastructure.”
Rashid Rafiq Butt, general manager of Novo Nordisk Pakistan, presented advances in the treatment of obesity, saying: “We have introduced an innovative GLP-1-based therapy, which is already helping millions of people worldwide in weight management effectively. However, to address obesity in Pakistan, we must adopt a coordinated approach throughout the world.
