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Objective: To study the pattern and prevalence of obesity in a large representative sample of Pakistani population aged 20 years and above., Methodology: This study is a sub analysis of the second National Diabetes Survey of Pakistan (NDSP) 2016-2017, a large community-based epidemiological survey carried out from February 2016 to August 2017 in all 4 provinces of Pakistan. An estimated sample size of 10,834 people was calculated using a multistage sampling technique. Out of 213 clusters, Twenty-seven clusters were selected from all four provinces of Pakistan. Households were identified and selected members of every 10th household were advised to come to the campsite after an overnight fast. All the study participants underwent anthropometric measurements including height, weight, and waist circumference by using standardized techniques and oral glucose tolerance tests were done. Data were analyzed on the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), version 20., Results: Overall weighted prevalence of generalized obesity was 57.9% (42% in males and 58% in females) and central obesity 73.1% (37.3% in males and 62.7% in females) as per WHO Asia pacific cutoffs. The highest prevalence of generalized obesity was found in Punjab 60%, followed by Khyber, Pakhtunkhwa 59.2%. Moreever, highest prevalence of abdominal obesity was observed in Baluchistan 82.1%, followed by Punjab 73.3%. Obesity (generalized and abdominal) was found significantly associated with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia., Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity is at epidemic proportions in Pakistan, calling for urgent lifestyle intervention strategies to prevent and manage this important cardiometabolic risk factor., (Copyright © 2020 Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its associated risk factors in urban population., Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out at four union councils of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from May to September 2014, and comprised members of the general public.A questionnaire was administered to obtain information about demographic characteristics and risk factors. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were obtained from the participants. Venous blood samples were taken for measuring glycated haemoglobin. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis., Results: Of the 404 participants, 181(44.8%) were men and 223(55.2%) were women. The overall mean age was 42.3±13 years. Overall prevalence of diabetes was 133(32.9%) and that of pre-diabetes was 151(37.4%). The prevalence of diabetes was 203(50.3%) in 50-65 years age group and 143(35.4%) among obese subjects. Diabetes was significantly associated with increasing age (35-49 years (p<0.05); 50-65 years (p<0.01), positive parental (p<0.05) and sibling (p<0.05) history of diabetes, hypertension (p<0.01) and central obesity (p<0.05)., Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes was very high. Prevalence increased with increasing age and body mass index. Major independent risk factors were increasing age, central obesity, and family history of diabetes and hypertension.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (diagnosed and undiagnosed), impaired fasting glucose and possible risk factors for diabetes mellitus among Pakistani population., Methods: This cross sectional study was performed in Rawalpindi which is one of the cities in Northern Punjab of Pakistan in July 2008. An area was selected in Rawalpindi city, with mixed population representative of almost all provinces with different socioeconomic groups. Three hundred and thirteen houses were selected through systematic random sampling technique and fasting blood glucose was obtained and subjects were labeled to have diabetes according to WHO criteria of diagnosing diabetes mellitus. The statistical analysis was performed by using Stata version 10., Results: There were 1091 respondents who were selected after cleaning the data, among them 293 were males and 798 were females. Of the total 15.41% of the males and 12.31% of females were found to have diabetes mellitus. Thus making a total prevalence of 13.14%. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was found in 5.14% males and 5.78% females making a total prevalence of 5.61%. Over all (DM & IFG) was found to be 20.55% in males and 18.09% in females. The main risk factors identified were obesity, family history, hypertension and increasing age., Conclusion: There is an increased prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Pakistan and main risk factors identified were obesity, overweight, family history of diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.