LAHORE : The Principal of Ameer-ud-Din Medical College, Prof. Dr. Farooq Afzal, stated that obesity has emerged as a rapidly escalating global crisis, causing severe medical challenges at both individual and national levels.
Addressing a special awareness lecture at Lahore General Hospital (LGH) titled “Balance Life, Not Just Weight — Obesity Prevention and a Healthy Future,” Prof. Farooq Afzal highlighted that obesity is the root cause of numerous diseases, citing the excessive consumption of oily foods, the rising trend of fast food and a lack of physical activity as primary factors pushing the younger generation toward chronic complications. He stressed that educators, the media and civil society must play a pivotal role in countering this situation, as safeguarding the health of the youth through regular training sessions in educational institutions is a collective social responsibility.
On this occasion, experts including Prof. Khurram Saleem, Prof. Shandana Tariq, Prof. Amna Ahsan Cheema and Dr. M Maqsood declared that early signs like rapid fatigue or shortness of breath often serve as precursors to diabetes, heart disease and joint pain.
The participants were informed that for individuals suffering from morbid obesity who fail to lose weight through traditional methods, LGH provides state-of-the-art laparoscopic and bariatric surgery facilities, which are highly effective in controlling body weight and mitigating medical risks.
While speaking to the media, Prof Farooq urged the public to prioritize simple home-cooked meals over expensive outdoor dining to ensure better health and avoid rising medical costs. He reaffirmed the LGH administration’s commitment to continuing this awareness campaign consistently, adding that obesity affects not only physical health but also human personality and aesthetics and maintaining a healthy, energetic younger generation is vital as they are the true asset of the nation.
