Lahore,12 Feb 2025(Ghufran): The young generation must play its role to save the people from the ravages of increasing non-communicable diseases. Sanaullah Ghumman. More than 41% of adults in Pakistan are overweight or obese and with more than 33 million living with diabetes.
The continuation of increasing non-communicable diseases will prove to be an atomic bomb for Pakistan’s health system in the near future. Empowering youth for public health is the need of the hour. PANAH’s Social Work Department organizes a session on the growing threat of non-communicable diseases at the University of the Punjab.
February 11, Lahore. Increasing non-communicable diseases have become a huge problem in Pakistan, due to which millions of people are suffering from diabetes, obesity, heart disease, kidney diseases and some types of cancer. 60% of deaths in Pakistan are due to these non-communicable diseases.
Consumption of ultra-processed products plays a major role in this national health emergency. One of the major reasons for this is the consumption of unhealthy food, with the widespread use of ultra-processed products being the top culprit. Due to the consumption of these products, more than 41% of adults in Pakistan are either overweight or obese. Moreover, more than 33 million people are currently living with diabetes, with another 10 million on the verge of developing the disease. This alarming issue was highlighted in a youth sensitization session organized by the Department of Social Work, University of the Punjab, aimed at involving the youth in the campaign to prevent unhealthy food.
General Secretary Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) Sanaullah Ghumman said that due to the widespread consumption of ultra-processed products (UPPs), more than 41% of adults in Pakistan are overweight or obese, with more than 33 million living with diabetes. If immediate policy action is not taken, this number will increase to 62 million by 2045. He stressed that ultra-processed products loaded with excessive sugar, salt and trans fats are a major cause of these diseases. He urged the government to take decisive action, including increasing taxes and introducing front-of-pack warning labels on all products so that people know what they are eating. Mr. Sanaullah Ghumman said that PANAH is preparing a youth force consisting of students from all universities of Pakistan and its main objective is to prepare the youth to be a part of this campaign.
Chairperson of the Social Work department, Dr. Uzma Ashiq, said that the flood of non-communicable diseases that have come to the country can be stopped by preventing and implementing policies that prevent the causes of these diseases. He assured that the Social Work Department will actively participate in this campaign.