More than 100 million adults in Pakistan are now overweight or obese, a dramatic surge that is fueling a sharp rise in serious diseases and threatens to unleash an unprecedented health crisis unless urgent action is taken, according to national and international health experts speaking at a conference in Islamabad.
Experts warned that obesity is silently causing thousands of premature deaths and disabilities among relatively young Pakistanis each year. The epidemic is closely linked to rapidly increasing cases of diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, several cancers, infertility, and obstructive sleep apnea, posing a severe strain on the country’s public health system.
Professor Waseem Hanif, an expert in Diabetes and Endocrinology from the University of Birmingham, highlighted that obesity is a global issue, with nearly 2.5 billion adults worldwide overweight and one billion clinically obese. He emphasized that South Asians, including Pakistanis, are at even greater risk of health complications at lower body weights, suggesting the ideal BMI for this population should be around 23. Calling obesity “a normal response to an abnormal environment,” he stressed the need for both medical treatments and lifestyle changes.
Hanif mentioned tirzepatide, a new therapeutic drug that can reduce weight by up to 25 percent, as an important tool in obesity management. However, he cautioned that its effectiveness depends on accompanying dietary and exercise changes. Describing obesity as a disease whose main symptom is persistent hunger, he called for recognizing and treating it with the seriousness it deserves.
The conference marked the launch of Pakistan’s first locally produced generic version of tirzepatide by Getz Pharma, bringing a breakthrough medication for obesity and diabetes within reach of Pakistani patients. Professor Saleem Qureshi, Head of Medicine at KRL Hospital Islamabad, welcomed the development and noted that, in the past, patients had to spend exorbitant amounts on unregistered, imported treatments. With tirzepatide now available locally, diabetes remission has become more accessible. He raised alarm that if current trends persist, over half of Pakistani children could become obese by the time they reach their mid-thirties, underlining the need for early intervention and a combination of medical and lifestyle approaches.
Other experts at the event, including Professor Jamal Zafar, reiterated that long-term success depends on regular exercise, physical activity, and a balanced diet, explaining that exercise helps reduce appetite rather than increasing it.
Dr. Khurram Hussain, Managing Director of Getz Pharma, affirmed the company’s ongoing mission to offer affordable, evidence-based treatments for obesity and related diseases. He noted that the introduction of GLP-1 and GIP therapies would further help manage weight and reduce the risks of diabetes and heart disease. Getz Pharma has previously played a leading role in making advanced biologic medications, such as insulin and interferons, more widely available in Pakistan.
Presenting the results of the PAK-SEHAT study, Dr. Khurram Nasir, a leading cardiology prevention expert at Houston Methodist, revealed that only one in five Pakistani adults has a normal BMI, while nearly three out of four are obese. He identified obesity as the primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease and hypertension in the country—an assessment recently shared at a global cardiology conference.
The event drew a large gathering of doctors and specialists who welcomed the availability of a new, effective therapy for diabetes and obesity in Pakistan, calling for greater public education, medical interventions, and support for healthier lifestyles to prevent a looming health catastrophe.
