Every Second Women To Be Overweight Or Obese By 2025 In Pakistan: Experts
Muhammad Irfan Published November 08, 2021 | 04:18 PM
The experts on Monday warned that increased consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and food items was causing serious non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including overweight or obesity in the country where every second women would be obese by 2025 if situation persists unattended.
SWAT, Nov 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Nov, 2021 ) :The experts on Monday warned that increased consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and food items was causing serious non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including overweight or obesity in the country where every second women would be obese by 2025 if situation persists unattended.
They expressed these views while addressing an awareness session organized in Behrain Swat under the auspices of Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH).
PANAH General Secretary Sana Ullah Ghumman, in his welcome remarks, said that 30 percent of the total production of sugar was consumed domestically, whereas 70 percent of the remaining production was utilized by the beverage industry, the highest consumer of sugar.
"One of the major causes of heart diseases, obesity, diabetes and other NCDs is the increased consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs)," he added.
Ghumman said by increasing tax on sugary drinks, the burden of diseases could be reduced alongwith increase in the revenue of the government.
"Unhealthy diet is the top most cause of disease and death. Improving diet could help in preventing diseases and deaths from NCDs," the PANAH General Secretary remarked.
Advisor to Food Policy Program Munawar Hussain told the participants that 40 percent of the country's children under five years of age were stunted and over 41 percent adults were overweight or obese. He said they were facing multiple challenges of malnutrition.
In Pakistan, from 2011 to 2018, obesity in women increased from 28 percent to 38 percent, while in urban areas it increased to 44 percent.
Within last seven years, the ratio of obesity among Pakistani children was registered doubled.
"Unhealthy diet is one of the leading cause of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and other diseases. Every day 2200 people in Pakistan die due to NCDs. Therefore, we should pay attention to our diet and stop consuming sugary drinks so that our generations can be protected from life-threatening diseases, including heart disease, obesity and diabetes," Munawar Hussain said.
He said consumption of sugar sweetened beverages was one of the major cause of heart diseases, obesity and diabetes. "Industry claimed that they pay Rs 72 billion as tax revenue. While Rs 428 billion is spent annually on obesity-related diseases alone," he noted.
Pakistan, he warned, was currently ranked 4th in bearing one of the largest patients of diabetes. Pakistan's media was our voice that amplified PANAH's efforts to spread the facts, he added.
Former Member Provincial Assembly Syed Jafar Shah was the chief guest on the occasion. He appreciated PANAH for such sessions and said it was quite educating and informative.
"We need a holistic approach to address the issue whereas the present age is of media and communication with increased access to information tools," he underlined.
He suggested PANAH to hold countrywide awareness sessions of such scale to boost education on sugar and tobacco hazards.
Daily Ajj Subho Chief Editor Ali Amjad attended as special guest where Vice President PANAH Squadron Leader (Retd) Ghulam Abbas were also present.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
CJP voices dissatisfaction over Faizabad sit-in's fact-finding report
Efforts on for producing skilled manpower: Ch. Shafay
Landowners in Jand Bari decide for legal action over compensation dispute for wa ..
Military-ruled Chad votes for president in bloody transition
Pakistan highly values its multifaceted ties with Italy: PM
IAEA chief in Iran as concern grows over nuclear activity
Fire erupts in F-7's plaza in Islamabad
Police arrest 3 accused of filming torture
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti , ministers call on President
CM Murad urges NHA to hand over Lyari Expressway, Karachi-Thatta and Mirpurkhas- ..
Sindh govt plans to conduct random drug tests on students: Sharjeel Memon
EPA major crackdown: 200kg single-use plastics confiscated
More Stories From Pakistan
-
CJP voices dissatisfaction over Faizabad sit-in's fact-finding report
17 minutes ago -
Landowners in Jand Bari decide for legal action over compensation dispute for water dam construction
17 minutes ago -
Pakistan highly values its multifaceted ties with Italy: PM
17 minutes ago -
Fire erupts in F-7's plaza in Islamabad
29 minutes ago -
Police arrest 3 accused of filming torture
29 minutes ago -
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti , ministers call on President
29 minutes ago
-
CM Murad urges NHA to hand over Lyari Expressway, Karachi-Thatta and Mirpurkhas-Umerkot road to Sind ..
28 minutes ago -
Sindh govt plans to conduct random drug tests on students: Sharjeel Memon
29 minutes ago -
EPA major crackdown: 200kg single-use plastics confiscated
29 minutes ago -
DC for implementation of Roti, Naan's revised rates
46 minutes ago -
Hujra culture still alive in KP despite mushroom growth of social media
46 minutes ago -
Sindh University Laar Campus Hosts Sports Gala 2024
46 minutes ago