Similar to diarrhea and pneumonia, childhood obesity and overweight have skyrocketed in underdeveloped nations like Pakistan in recent years as a result of overindulging in contaminated and inferior diets.
To protect the health of the children attending school, it was therefore imperative that a restriction on the sale and purchase of junk food be implemented, even only in educational institutions.
Poor quality food is thought to be one of the main contributors to ailments, such as obesity and overweight among children from middle-class and lower-class families in nations like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Mexico, and so on.
“In Pakistan, the number of overweight and obese cases has increased as a result of sedentary lifestyles, excessive use of mobile phones, and unhealthy food consumption,” Government Hospital Pabbi Nowshera’s chief medical officer and pediatrician Dr. Riaz Khan Malik told APP.
Dr. Riaz stated that over 11% of children in the nation were overweight, and over 5% were obese, citing the Pakistan Health Commission’s (PHC) 2018 report. However, data gathered through hospital-based studies and surveys revealed that 40% to 50% of children were either overweight or obese, which was concerning.
He said that the COVID-19 era’s lockdown regulations, the closing of gyms and schools, and the suspension of some sporting activities, particularly in metropolitan areas, were to blame for the nation’s rising obesity rate.. He stated, “Obesity and being overweight are as harmful to health as diarrhea and pneumonia, and if left untreated, can result in serious health complications.” He went on to say that young people in their 20s and 30s who are overweight are more vulnerable to developing diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, digestive difficulties, and other health problems.
Burgers, shawarma, potato chips, munchies, drinks, and the open sale of unclean food in marketplaces, bazaars, and educational institutions, he claimed, were negatively impacting children’s health.
To lower the risk of obesity, Dr. Riaz Malik advised regular exercise, a healthy, balanced diet, and avoiding sugar-filled beverages and eating out.
Misal Khan, a Pabbi Nowshera local, told APP, “My grandson Ismail Khan, 4, had been complaining about irritable bowel syndrome for the last few weeks, so I brought him for a medical checkup because he was fond of snacks and chips openly sold in our village shops and markets.” “In addition to high carbohydrate rich food and beverages, the doctors diagnosed him with irritable bowel syndrome citing an excessive use of snacks and locally made chips,” the man stated.
The news agency was informed by Qaiser Khan, the spokesperson for the KP Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KPFS&HFA), that 158,481 inspections were carried out and 944,178 kilograms and liters of subpar food items were thrown out last year.
The crews disposed of 41,678 liters of tainted milk, 152,460 liters of fake drinks, and 122,128 kilograms of inferior baked goods and candies.
In a similar vein, numerous wholesale merchants were examined, and 205,584 kg of inferior goods were taken from and disposed of from such establishments. throughout addition to discarding 20,790 kg of oil and ghee, 19,314 kg of stale fish, and 35,662 kg of spices and unhealthy chips, the authorities also disposed of numerous other subpar food items throughout the province.
“The majority of these unhealthy food products were thrown away in Peshawar, where 359,634 kg/litre of unclean things were found and disposed of,” he stated. He also mentioned that approximately 114,033 and 112,483 kg of unhealthy food items were thrown away in the districts of Mardan and Nowshera.
According to him, seven brand-new mobile food testing labs have been set up in various province divisions to immediately crack down on inferior and contaminated food items and inspect the quality of hotel products. According to Qaiser, the current fiscal year would see the establishment of five more similar laboratories.
According to Altaf Hussain, head of operations for the Authority, market food quality is regularly inspected, and offenders face harsh penalties. Using mobile food testing labs, a multifaceted approach has been used to combat food adulteration. He claimed that adulteration hubs and violators were apprehended, legal action was taken, and they were hit with heavy fines.
For a healthy lifestyle, he advised including fresh food in one’s diet on a regular basis, particularly vegetables, fresh juices, and dairy products.
According to Shah Rukh Ali Khan, Director General of KP FS&HFA, mobile food testing labs are outfitted with cutting-edge apparatus that can test more than 20 food items at once.
We are expanding the number of mobile laboratories since these facilities are highly successful in spotting adulterants in food products.
Five mobile food testing labs are now being procured; the procedure should be finished shortly. He claimed that the Hayatabad, Peshawar food testing laboratory was receiving facility upgrades from the provincial government as well.
According to Shahrukh Khan, there is now more oversight of food services in markets, with a particular emphasis on encouraging positive behavioral changes in food handlers and owners to improve quality control.
In addition to monthly awareness seminars aimed at promoting healthy eating habits in the province, the DG reported that last year over 7,000 food handlers received training at the food safety level to improve food processing.
