Experts at Karachi moot urge shift to lifestyle-based healthcare
Dow University announces plan for Lifestyle Medicine Research Centre, calls for academic integration of prevention-based care
IV Report
KARACHI: With Pakistan facing a growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases,
experts at an international symposium have called for a proactive shift toward
prevention-based healthcare through the integration of lifestyle medicine —
focusing on nutrition, physical activity, mental well-being, and other
non-pharmacological interventions.
The symposium, titled “Lifestyle
Medicine: Redefining the Foundations of Health”, was hosted by the Dow
University of Health Sciences (DUHS) on July 26 and brought together national
and international health professionals, researchers, and policymakers.
According to a press release issued by DUHS on July 30, participants stressed
the urgent need to connect lifestyle factors to the country’s escalating health
crisis.
DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Jehan
Ara Hassan, addressing the event as chief guest, announced the university’s
plan to establish a “Lifestyle Medicine and Health Promotion Research Centre”
aimed at translating research into community-level action.
“Our healthcare model must evolve
from reactive treatment to proactive prevention,” Prof Hassan emphasised.
“Patient care should begin well before diagnosis — with focus on nutrition,
physical activity, sleep, mental well-being, and prevention of non-communicable
diseases (NCDs).”
Highlighting the growing prevalence
of conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, gestational diabetes, and
other women’s health issues in Pakistan, the vice chancellor underlined the
importance of adopting balanced lifestyle habits from an early age. “While
genetic predispositions cannot be eliminated, lifestyle changes can
significantly reduce disease severity and progression,” she said.
Renowned surgeon and former DUHS
vice chancellor Prof Dr M Saeed Quraishy spotlighted the evolving role of
physiotherapy in post-surgical care. “Innovations like Enhanced Recovery After
Surgery (ERAS) have transformed recovery timelines. Where patients once
remained bedridden for weeks, early mobility is now standard,” he noted.
In his keynote address, Prof Kashif
Shafiq remarked that lifestyle medicine enables people to lead not just
disease-free, but purposeful and independent lives. “Sleep, movement, emotional
connection, and mindful living are no longer vague ideals — they’re measurable
indicators of health,” he said.
Citing recent figures, he noted that
non-communicable diseases account for 58% of all deaths in Pakistan, with
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses
topping the list. “Prevention and lifestyle-centered care are the only sustainable
paths forward,” he emphasised.
Speaking via video link, Dr Shagufta
Feroz from the University of Arizona shared that lifestyle medicine is
increasingly being adopted as a formal academic discipline globally. “In the
U.S., I transformed my practice into a ‘no-medicine clinic’ where patients
replace prescriptions with sustainable lifestyle changes,” she said.
From the UK, Dr Ilyas Yamani
stressed the importance of interdisciplinary teams for lifestyle medicine to be
effective. “No single physician can handle it all. Nurses, dietitians,
physiotherapists, and lifestyle coaches must work in sync,” he said.
Dr Salma Mehr raised concerns over
changing dietary patterns among children, warning that processed foods — such
as burgers, pizzas, and sugary drinks — are steadily replacing traditional,
nutrient-rich diets, posing long-term health risks.
Photos courtesy: DUHS
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