LAHORE: With more than one billion people living with obesity worldwide, health experts on Monday called for treating obesity as a chronic disease and expanding access to medical and surgical care in Pakistan.
Speaking to the participants, they say obesity has emerged as a major public health challenge.
The World Health Organization estimates that in 2022, 43 per cent of adults globally were overweight and 16pc were living with obesity - more than double the rate recorded in 1990.
“We need to stop seeing obesity as a failure of will power. It is a chronic disease. With the right medical and surgical support, patients can achieve long-term health outcomes, not just weight loss,” says Dr Tanveer Abbas, a bariatric and metabolic surgeon.
The experts say Pakistan is seeing one of the fastest increases. According to WHO data for 2022, 23pc of Pakistani adults were living with obesity, marking a 16.4pc increase over the previous decade.
They say estimates show nearly 60pc of adults are now overweight and 25pc are obese with obesity rates having more than tripled in 20 years.
The WHO also classifies obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other non-communicable diseases, they said.
Against this backdrop, Chisel Health observed an obesity awareness week, bringing together patients, healthcare professionals and community members for discussions on awareness, education and modern treatment options.
Speakers highlighted the need to move away from viewing obesity as solely a matter of lifestyle or will power.
Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2026
