Initiative against obesity South Asia to launch `Run For Healthy Life` drive
By Our Staff Reporter
2017-11-27
LAHORE: The South Asian countries joined hands here on Sunday to launch `Run for Healthy Life` campaign in each country simultaneously with a view to promoting a healthy lifestyle among the youngsters to prevent obesity and diabetes.
`The South Asian countries constitute bulk of the burden of diabetes, categorising the region to be `in a state of emergency`, which prompted the campaign launch to motivate younger generation to do exercise and to learn to eat healthy,` said Dr S Abbas Raza, president of the South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies (SAFES).
He was addressing a press conference on the concluding day of the 4-day 15th Annual PESSA FES Summit 2017 titled `Together for Endocrinology`, organised by the Pakistan Endocrine Society South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies at a local hotel.
He was flanked by representative members of SAFES from Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Dr Raza said India was also fully on board although SAFES member from the country could notmake it to the event.
He said the Endocrine Societies from the member countries would launch the campaign together to create awareness about obesity which was one of the most important risk factors of diabetes.
He said it was important to create awareness that obesity and diabetes were preventable through regular exercise and adopting a healthy lifestyle.
PES president Prof Dr Ali Jawa said Pakistan was ranked as 9th most obese country in the world, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study published in The Lancet medical journal.
`There are very limited entities working to address this concern, which is leading to diabetes and other serious diseases, putting our younger generation at a grave risk,` he added.
The experts at the conference advised the people against eating fast food, fizzy and energy drinks and sugary items.
Theyexpressedconcern at the aggressive advertisement campaigns, warning that such tactics could easily lure children and youngsters.
Later, the representative members of SAFES unveiled a special logo for the `Run for Healthy Life` campaign.
