PANAH Organizes Symposium on “Healthy Diet Policies to Prevent Obesity”

Health experts convened at a symposium on World Obesity Day, titled “Healthy Diet Policies to Prevent Obesity,” organized by the Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) on Monday. The gathering delved into the recent surge of overweight, obesity, and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the nation.

Over 40% of the population in the country grapples with obesity or overweight issues.

Shockingly, the prevalence of overweight among children under 5 has nearly doubled from 2011 to 2018.

The rate of obesity and overweight among women of reproductive age surged from 28% to 38% over five years.

Sugary drinks and ultra-processed products, often laden with excessive sugar, salt, or trans-fats, were identified as major contributors to the obesity epidemic and the rise of numerous non-communicable diseases. Urgent policy actions by the government are imperative to curb obesity and NCDs nationwide.

Former Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Nadeem Jan, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Notable guests included Ex-President of PANAH, Gen. (R) General Ashraf Khan, Munawar Hussain, the Country Representative of Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Col. Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Mirza, Vice President of PANAH, Anwar Raza, President of the National Press Club Islamabad, Dr. Saba Amjad, CEO of Heartfile, health professionals, civil society representatives, and members of the media.

Dr. Nadeem Jan reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to combating the obesity epidemic and addressing NCDs. He affirmed that the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination is dedicated to implementing comprehensive measures to enhance public health in Pakistan. Dr. Jan highlighted recent initiatives, including the ban on sugary drinks within the health ministry and advisory issuance to other ministries to follow suit, underscoring his enduring support for PANAH.

Gen. (R) Ashraf Khan delivered a keynote address, shedding light on modifiable risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases and obesity. He stressed that overweight and obesity serve as pivotal modifiable risk factors for various fatal non-communicable diseases, significantly impacting cardiovascular health. Emphasizing the role of unhealthy diets in exacerbating obesity, he called for immediate policy interventions, including higher taxes on ultra-processed foods, to mitigate risks.

Munawar Hussain, in his presentation, elaborated on policies aimed at reducing the consumption of ultra-processed products, advocating for higher taxes on sugary drinks, chocolates, ice creams, and other unhealthy snacks. He emphasized that taxing ultra-processed foods presents a triple-win scenario for the government: reducing obesity and NCDs, generating additional revenue, and incurring no additional costs. He recommended that revenue collected from taxes be allocated for public health programs, urging holistic approaches such as regulating trans-fats, marketing restrictions, and imposing front-of-pack warning labels on ultra-processed products.

Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Mirza highlighted the adverse effects of sugary drinks on metabolism, and calorie intake, and their potential to lead to obesity and type 2 diabetes. He emphasized adherence to World Health Organization guidelines on sugar, salt, and trans-fat intake to mitigate disease burden and stressed the necessity for robust policy actions to curb obesity and NCDs.

Sanaullah Ghumman provided insights into PANAH’s campaign to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods, emphasizing their efforts to raise public awareness and collaborate with policymakers to formulate effective policies. He expressed gratitude to the health minister for initiating the ban on sugary drinks across federal government ministries and departments.