Staff Reporter
The excess consumption of sugary drinks is one of the major causes of obesity and its related diseases, increasing risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, liver and kidney damage, heart disease, and some types of cancers. This has been shared during the webinar organized by National Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Secretariat, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives in collaboration with Global Health Advocacy Incubator, SUN Academia and Research Network and Pakistan National Heart Association. The speakers highlighted the harmful effects of sugar sweetened beverages on the health of people who regularly consume such drinks. The webinar was attended by representatives of academia and research institutions, policy think tanks, government departments, UN agencies, civil society organizations and media.
While speaking to the webinar, Mr. Nazeer Ahmed Deputy Chief/SUN Focal Point, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives mentioned that obesity is rising in the country at alarming rates which is a gateway to Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). He mentioned that we have the Ministry published Pakistan Dietary Guidelines for Better Nutrition in collaboration with all relevant government and non-government organizations. It provide clear guidelines about the dietary practice and healthy lifestyle.
