Obesity linked to 229 diseases, life cut by 11 years

Karachi: Obesity is linked to as many as 229 diseases and can shorten life by five to 11 years, senior endocrinologists and medical specialists said at a metabolic health forum in Karachi on Sunday. More than 1,100 doctors from Sindh and other parts of the country attended the event at Getz Pharma’s Astola facility, where speakers described obesity as a major driver of diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, disability and premature death.

Endocrinologist Dr Abbas Raza said obesity caused or contributed to 229 diseases. He presented data showing knee osteoarthritis in 52 percent of obese people, hypertension in 51 percent, sleep apnoea in 40 percent, fatty liver disease in 29 percent, heart attacks and diabetes in 21 percent each, and major depression in 19 percent. One in four Pakistanis, or 25 percent of the population, is living with obesity, including women and children, he said, adding that it was not a matter of appearance or willpower.

Dr Raza blamed urbanisation, sedentary routines, sugary drinks, energy-dense foods and limited physical activity for the rising burden. He said more than 75 percent of people with excess weight do not consider themselves overweight or obese, and therefore fail to change their lifestyles or seek help before complications develop. International Diabetes Federation figures cited at the forum put the number of Pakistani adults with diabetes at 34.5 million, with prevalence reaching 31.4 percent.

Experts said Pakistan now has access to some of the world’s most affordable advanced medicines, including semaglutide, which can help suitable patients alongside healthier diets, exercise and long-term follow-up. Prof A.H. Amir said GLP-1 medicines act like a natural signal that helps control appetite and blood sugar, and could prove cost-effective by preventing hospital admissions, disability and expensive heart and kidney complications.

Getz Pharma Deputy Managing Director Zeeshan Ahmed said the company had invested billions of rupees in manufacturing, quality systems and research, exports medicines to around 45 countries and is expanding into Eastern Europe and South America while generating local treatment data. Dr Faisal Masood Qureshi said Pakistan was producing affordable weight-control medicines meeting international quality standards, and stressed uninterrupted supplies and safeguards against counterfeit products and unsupervised use.

Prof Saeed A. Mahar said body mass index was useful but should not determine treatment alone; doctors should also consider waist size, illnesses and previous efforts involving diet and exercise. Evidence presented at the forum showed semaglutide may offer benefits beyond weight and blood-sugar control. The SELECT study found a 20 percent reduction in cardiovascular death, heart attack and stroke, while the FLOW study reported a 24 percent reduction in serious kidney outcomes among relevant high-risk patients.

Experts warned that semaglutide was not a miracle injection and should not be used for unsupervised cosmetic weight loss. Organisers said free guidance from medical experts was available at health-fitness.pk or by calling (021) 111-455-455. They called for healthier lifestyles, trained prescribers, affordable treatment and protection against counterfeit medicines.