OBESITY - A SOARING EPIDEMIC IN PAKISTAN

Topical shifts in the dietary pattern with the intake of high caloric food along with the practices of Physical inactivities lead to the development of Obesity1. According to the statistics of Pakistan Demographic Health Survey (PDHS) 2013, the prevalence of Obesity among male and female population of Pakistan living in the rural setting is found to be 11% and 19% respectively whereas in urban setting the numbers are even higher where 23% of male population and 40% of female population are obese 2. A comprehensive global status report on non-communicable diseases, 2010 stated that every fourth adult individual in Pakistan is either overweight or obese making the population more vulnerable for the risk of developing non communicable diseases (NCDs) like obstructive sleep apnea, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and cancers.