Says obese people have six times more chances of diabetes, call for lifestyle changes
Srinagar, Jan 28 : Body weight is no longer just a cosmetic concern, but it is becoming a major driver of multiple life-threatening diseases affecting large numbers of people.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in a recent report, has estimated that obesity is strongly associated with over 250 diseases, making it one of the most serious health challenges of this century.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr Suhail Ahmad Mir from Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) said that obesity is not just about weight, but it is about the way excess fat disrupts normal metabolism and organ function.
“It increases inflammation and insulin resistance, which are key mechanisms behind chronic diseases,” he said.
He said that excess body fat interferes with the body’s ability to respond to insulin – the hormone that controls blood sugar – which leads to insulin resistance and eventually to type 2 diabetes.
Doctors said that people with obesity can have up to six times higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those of a healthy weight.
Dr Shabir Ahmad, another doctor, said that obesity raises the risk of blood cancers, increases bad cholesterol, and promotes chronic inflammation, all of which are key risk factors for heart attacks and stroke.
“Some studies have shown that obesity increases the risk of several cancers, including breast, colon, and pancreatic, as excess fat tissue produces hormones and growth factors that can stimulate cancer cell growth,” he said, adding that obesity is linked to conditions such as fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, osteoporosis, and reproductive problems.
Doctors said that obesity is the root cause of many life-threatening non-communicable diseases, and therefore, it needs to be taken seriously.
They said that genetic and biological factors also play a role, but lifestyle choices, including diet, physical activity, sleep, reduced intake of processed high-sugar and high-fat foods, and stress management, are the main measures that can help in preventing and managing obesity—(KNO)
