Islamabad (Zahid Yaqoob Khawaja): Experts emphasized the importance of obesity management in building a healthy society, citing the role of healthy eating and regular exercise in preventing diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and kidney-related ailments. These views were shared during the two-day Obesity Management Workshop organized by Macter International Limited at a local Islamabad hotel.

On the first day of the workshop, productive sessions and discussions focused on advancements in diabetes and endocrinology.

Obesity is a pressing concern in Pakistan, with the World Obesity Federation ranking the country among those with the highest rates of overweight and obese individuals, affecting half of the population.

Alarmingly, the federation predicts that 5.4 million Pakistani school-aged children will be obese by 2030.

Professor Bilal Bin Younis stressed the importance of preventing and controlling obesity to build a healthy society. He noted that most pre-diabetic individuals in Pakistan are obese and are at high risk of developing diabetes if they don’t take proper measures. Creating awareness about the negative impacts of obesity is crucial to preventing future health issues.

Dr. Ayla Khan highlighted the need for specialized obesity management setups and their global standards.

Aamir Naveed presented Macter’s vision for obesity awareness and management, outlining the project’s scope and suggesting ways to prevent obesity in society.

During the concluding session, Macter International Limited signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with partnering organizations, including the Capital Development Authority, OlaDoc, Marham, Sehat Kahani, and Lions Club.

These partnerships will enable Macter International to implement obesity awareness and management programs in various medical facilities and cities across Pakistan.

Aamir Naveed emphasized the importance of diagnosis in disease management, stating that proper treatment is impossible without accurate diagnosis. He highlighted the need for partnerships at all levels to promote awareness about diseases and the importance of diagnosis.