Obesity is linked to 229 diseases and may cut life expectancy by up to 11 years, say experts
KARACHI: Obesity is linked to as many as 229 diseases and may shorten life by five to 11 years, senior endocrinologists and medical specialists warned on Sunday, calling for early lifestyle changes and medically supervised treatment of the chronic condition.
Fortunately, they said, Pakistan now had access to some of the world’s most affordable cutting-edge medicines and therapies for obesity, diabetes and related complications.
More than 1,100 doctors from Sindh and other parts of the country attended the Metabolic Health Forum at Getz Pharma’s Astola facility. Experts 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. Data showed 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.
He said one in four Pakistanis, or 25 percent of the population, was living with obesity, with women and children affected. It was not an issue of appearance or willpower, he added.
Dr Raza blamed urbanisation, sedentary routines, sugary drinks, energy-dense foods and limited physical activity for the growing burden.
He said more than 75 percent of people with excess weight did not consider themselves overweight or obese and consequently failed to change their lifestyles or seek help before complications developed.
Dr Raza said Pakistanis were fortunate to have early access to advanced medicines at affordable prices. Semaglutide could help suitable patients alongside healthier diets, exercise and long-term follow-up, he added.
International Diabetes Federation figures indicated that 34.5 million Pakistani adults had diabetes, with prevalence reaching 31.4 percent. Dr Raza said obesity was often addressed only after complications developed.
Getz Pharma Deputy Managing Director Zeeshan Ahmed said the company had invested billions of rupees in manufacturing, quality systems and research to provide safe and effective medicines.
He said Getz Pharma exported medicines to around 45 countries and was expanding into Eastern Europe and South America while generating local treatment data.
Prof A.H. Amir said GLP-1 medicines acted like a natural signal that helped control appetite and blood sugar. He said they could prove cost-effective by preventing hospital admissions, disability and expensive heart and kidney complications.
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.
Dr Faisal Masood Qureshi said Pakistan was producing affordable weight-control medicines meeting international quality standards. He stressed uninterrupted supplies and safeguards against counterfeit products and unsupervised use.
Evidence presented at the forum showed that 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 said a major trial found that patients receiving semaglutide lost nearly 15 percent of their body weight. An Endocrine Practice review also reported possible heart, kidney, liver and quality-of-life benefits.
The panel discussion included Dr Saima Askari, Dr M A Ebrahim, Prof Karim Kammeruddin, Dr Jawaid Sami, Dr Najam Mahmudi, Dr Saif-ul-Haq, Dr Shahid Akhtar, Dr Shakeel Haider and Dr Ali Asghar.
Organisers said free guidance from medical experts was available at health-fitness.pk or by calling (021) 111-455-455.
The experts warned that semaglutide was not a miracle injection and should not be used for unsupervised cosmetic weight loss, calling for healthier lifestyles, trained prescribers, affordable treatment and protection against counterfeit medicines.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026