Unhealthy diets, sugary drinks and sedentary lifestyles fuelling obesity and diabetes; millions already at risk of serious health complications
Karachi: Around 18 million children and adolescents in Pakistan are living with obesity, with some already showing signs of prediabetes and insulin resistance, raising serious concerns about a growing burden of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other life-threatening health complications, leading health experts warned on Wednesday.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in connection with World Diabetes Day, health experts said unhealthy diets, excessive consumption of sugary drinks, lack of physical activity and changing lifestyles were contributing to an alarming increase in obesity and diabetes across Pakistan.
Diabetologist and endocrinologist Dr Asma Ahmed, associated with Aga Khan Hospital, said obesity was closely linked to diabetes, but the two conditions were often treated separately despite their strong association. She said the concept of “Diabesity” emphasised the importance of addressing obesity and diabetes together rather than treating them as isolated health problems.
She warned that approximately 18 million children and adolescents in Pakistan were affected by obesity, with some already developing prediabetes and insulin resistance, conditions that significantly increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
“Diabetes is only one part of a much wider spectrum of health complications associated with obesity,” she said, stressing that the growing prevalence of childhood obesity could have serious consequences for the country’s future health.
Dr Ahmed said people often underestimated their daily sugar consumption, explaining that a person who believed they consumed very little sugar could actually be taking as many as 10 teaspoons daily through 10 cups of sweetened tea alone.
She also criticised prevailing social attitudes towards childhood obesity, saying overweight children were often considered healthy by their families, while eating out had increasingly become a major form of family entertainment, encouraging unhealthy dietary habits.
Speaking on the occasion, leading diabetologist Dr Abdul Basit said research conducted nearly two decades ago had suggested that people with diabetes could not safely observe fasting during Ramadan. He said a Ramadan Study Group was established 18 years ago to investigate the issue scientifically and develop evidence-based recommendations.
He said subsequent research helped establish guidelines enabling people with diabetes to observe Ramadan fasting under appropriate medical supervision and with necessary precautions.
Dr Basit said it took three years of sustained efforts to convince the government to increase taxes on beverages to discourage the consumption of sugary drinks, which were contributing significantly to obesity and diabetes.
“Pakistan consumes approximately 55 billion bottles of beverages annually,” he said, highlighting the scale of beverage consumption and its potential implications for public health.
He said the National Diabetes Network was also established on his initiative, while a Prime Minister’s programme aimed at addressing diabetes was expected to be launched soon. He added that religious scholars had also been trained over the past year to spread awareness about diabetes and its prevention within their communities.
International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Vice President Iram Ghafoor said the federation was established in 1950 with just 16 member associations and had since expanded to 264 associations across 164 countries.
She said World Diabetes Day was first observed in 1991 to raise awareness about the disease, while the United Nations subsequently adopted a resolution recognising diabetes as a major global public health concern.
Ghafoor stressed that diabetes awareness, prevention and management should not be restricted to World Diabetes Day but must remain a year-round public health priority.
She warned that approximately nine million people in Pakistan were unaware that they had diabetes, while another 35 million were at risk of developing the disease.
She said identifying diabetes was only the first step, as preventing complications and helping patients understand changes in their health were equally important for effective disease management.
Highlighting the financial burden of diabetes care, Ghafoor said blood glucose testing strips remained expensive for many patients, making it essential to educate them about systematic and regular blood sugar monitoring.
She said patients who could afford Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems could use the technology to monitor their glucose levels more effectively.
Ghafoor also warned that sleeping late and eating meals at night could adversely affect diabetes management. She advised people living with diabetes to inspect their feet daily to identify wounds, infections or other complications before they became serious.
Director of the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN), Dr Saad Khalid Niaz, said controlling childhood obesity required fundamental changes in the behaviour and eating habits of parents as well as children.
He said parents frequently gave children money to order food from outside, encouraging unhealthy dietary practices, while excessive mobile phone use was reducing opportunities for physical activity and outdoor recreation.
Dr Niaz warned that excessive food consumption, overeating and unhealthy diets were contributing to an increasing burden of diseases and premature deaths worldwide. He said frequent consumption of rich, fatty foods and excessive calorie intake could lead to several serious health conditions.
NICVD Executive Director Dr Tahir Saghir said reducing excess body weight could help prevent not only diabetes but also several other serious diseases, particularly cardiovascular conditions.
He stressed that maintaining a balanced diet, avoiding excessive calorie consumption and incorporating regular physical activity into everyday life were essential for controlling obesity and reducing the risk of diabetes and other associated illnesses.