Over 10 crore Pakistanis are obese and overweight.
With more than 10 crore adults — over three out of every four citizens — now overweight or obese, Pakistan is staring at a looming health disaster, national and international health experts warned at a high-level moot in Karachi.
They said obesity is the leading driver of diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, cancers, and kidney failure, and unless urgently addressed, it will cripple the country’s health system.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Waseem Hanif, Professor of Diabetes and Endocrinology at the University of Birmingham, described obesity as “a normal response to an abnormal environment”.
2.5 billion people obese globally
He said nearly 2.5 billion people over 18 worldwide are overweight, and one billion are obese, adding that South Asians face even higher risks at lower body weights.
“The ideal BMI is 18–25, but for South Asians, it should be around 23. Obesity is a chronic disease that kills at a young age, cripples through sleep apnea, and destroys quality of life. In Pakistan, over 100 million people are obese. A revolutionary new treatment like tirzepatide is a fresh breeze — capable of reducing weight by up to 25 percent — but it must go hand in hand with a balanced diet and regular exercise. Obesity is a disease, and its main symptom is hunger,” he emphasised.
The moot was organized to mark the launch of Pakistan’s first generic tirzepatide by Getz Pharma. The drug has emerged as one of the most promising breakthroughs in obesity and diabetes care worldwide, showing remarkable results in clinical trials and real-world use.
Dr Riasat Ali Khan, President of the Primary Care Diabetes Association of Pakistan, said non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia are rising at an alarming pace in Pakistan, leading to more cases of heart attacks, kidney failure and other serious complications.
“Obesity is the mother of all sins — controlling it can help prevent and manage most major diseases afflicting our population,” he stressed.
He noted that obesity lies at the root of Pakistan’s growing health crisis. By addressing obesity through lifestyle modification and medical interventions, the risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension can be substantially reduced.
“If we can control obesity, we can significantly lower the burden of these diseases that are crippling our society and health system,” he said.
Referring to new treatments, Dr Riasat highlighted the potential of tirzepatide, a novel biological therapy.
“Tirzepatide is not just effective in controlling blood sugar — reducing HbA1c by up to 2.5 percent — but it can also bring about a remarkable weight loss of up to 25 percent. By doing so, it prevents complications linked to diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, giving patients a chance to live healthier and longer lives,” he added.
Dr Khurram Hussain, Managing Director of Getz Pharma, said the company was committed to providing affordable, evidence-based solutions for obesity and related complications.
“With GLP-1 and GIP therapy, we aim to support effective weight reduction and reduce risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. For over 17 years, Getz Pharma has led in making life-saving biologics accessible in Pakistan, from insulin to interferons, and we remain dedicated to advancing innovative, affordable treatments for weight management.”
Sharing data from the PAK-SEHAT study, Dr Khurram Nasir, Co-Primary Investigator and Chief of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention & Wellness at Houston Methodist, said the findings were alarming.
“Only one in five adults in Pakistan is within a normal BMI range. Nearly three out of four are obese, making obesity the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and hypertension. These results were presented recently at the American Society for Preventive Cardiology in Boston,” he noted.
The event was attended by a large number of endocrinologists, medical specialists, pulmonologists, general practitioners, and gastroenterologists who welcomed the availability of a new anti-diabetic and anti-obesity therapy in Pakistan.
