World obesity day - AMA declares obesity a disease, says Dr Naz

MN Report

Karachi: Prominent gynaecologist Prof Dr Shabeen Naz Masood has said that an estimated 20 per cent population of Pakistan is obese or overweight.

Moreover, overeating and less activity are the major factors behind the sharply rise in obesity cases in the society, she added.
She was speaking at a news conference held at Karachi Press Club to mark the World Obesity Day which is observed on Oct 26 in various parts of world. Prof Dr Tahir Hussain and Consultant Dietitian Dr Saima Rasheed also spoke on the occasion.

Dr Shabeen on this occasion informed media persons that American Medical Association (AMA) has recently declared obesity a disease.    
“Obesity among female is higher than male in the country,” she said, adding that obesity poses a major risk for serious diet-related non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, cholesterol, sterility, kidney and certain forms of cancer.
Prof Dr Tahir Hussain said obesity is the root cause of all diseases and stressed the need for adopting preventive measures to avoid diseases. He said overeating; less activity and genetic problems are major factors behind rise in obesity cases in the society.
Stressing the need for creating awareness among general public about obesity and its complications, he said that around 350 million people die from obesity across the world every year.
Consultant Dietitian Dr Saima Rasheed said about 115m obese people reside in under developed countries and as such it was imperitiv to promote and adopt healthy lifestyle as by doing so we could combat obesity and its complications.
Urging people to avoid junk foods and soft drinks to prevent obesity, she said balance diet and exercise are main treatment for over-weight or obese people.