Childhood obesity and Pakistan

Abstract

Obesity and overweight have become a problem of public health magnitude associated with substantial economic burden not only in the developed countries but also in the developing countries. The number of overweight children and adolescents has doubled in the last two decades in the United States and worldwide, including developing countries. No study on childhood obesity and overweight is available in Pakistan. Obesity in children impacts on their health in both short and long-term and obesity and its preventive strategies are poorly understood. Increasing number of these children and adolescents all over the world demand not only a substantial political will but also an investment for primary and secondary preventive measures and novel approaches in the treatment modalities.