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A study entitled "Prevalence of overweight and obesity
and their association with hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Pakistan"
by Dr Tazeen H. Jafar, Head, Section of Nephrology, and Director, Clinical Epidemiology
Unit of Aga Khan University reports that one in four Pakistani adults aged 15
years or over are overweight or obese according to the Asian-specific body mass
index (BMI) cutoff value of 23 kg/m2. The study was based on the analysis of
data from the National Health Survey of Pakistan. Data from this study confirms
that overweight and obesity are a major public health problem in Pakistan.
In addition, strong association was found between obesity as
defined by these cutoffs and hypertension and diabetes in our population, highlighting
the dangers of this under-recognized pandemic. The association of lower BMI
with these disease conditions in our population compared to higher levels of
BMI for diagnosis of obesity means that Indo-Asian people are at a greater risk
for chronic diseases at lower body weights, as compared to Europeans or Americans.
Thus, generally speaking, we need even stricter control of our body weight to
lower targets than our non-Asian counterparts. This is a potential cause of
concern seeing the continued trend towards urbanisation which will cause adult
levels of obesity to escalate.
It seems paradoxical that an economically challenged country
facing shortage of food would have a high burden of overweight people. However,
the association of an "unhealthy" weight with economical deprivation
is not so enigmatic. Poor people have limited choices. Many consume large amounts
of commercially available cheap, reused oil which is rich in hydrogenated fats
and also very energy dense. Further, with progressive industrialization in all
sectors, life styles have become increasingly sedentary.
Dr Jafar suggests aiming for a target body weight
based on Asian-specific targets and brisk walking for 30 minutes
on at least four days a week. Forming walking groups help reinforce
the habit. She also suggests making changes in one's lifestyle and
consuming a healthy diet consisting of seasonal vegetables and fruits
and reducing the amount of oil and sugar in diet. There is ample
evidence that weight reduction will help prevent disabilities from
strokes and heart attacks.
The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association
Journal (October 24, 2006 issue), and supported by a grant from the US National
Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Centre.
The university appreciates that the endemic problems of a region
beset with financial difficulties and low development indicators
can be addressed only through relevant research focusing on producing
low cost, accessible and innovative solutions.
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