Obesity-Free Punjab: MASSH Hospitals Launch Bold Campaign Against Rising Lifestyle Disease
By the time you finish reading this, someone in Punjab has likely checked their sugar levels after skipping breakfast — again. It’s a quiet reminder of how lifestyle diseases like obesity are no longer creeping in; they’re sprinting. In response, MASSH Group of Hospitals — India’s leading name in bariatric surgery — has launched the ambitious ‘Obesity-Free Punjab’ campaign, starting in Ludhiana.
The initiative combines cutting-edge bariatric surgery with public awareness, community outreach, and lifestyle education. It comes at a critical time. According to the NFHS-5, Punjab leads the country in obesity: 30.2% of men and a staggering 45% of women aged 15–49 are overweight. Ludhiana alone sees 80% of adult women affected by abdominal obesity, and nearly 7% of its children are obese.
“Punjab has changed,” says Dr. Harpreet Singh Jolly, Director of Bariatric Surgery at MASSH. “We now see over 60 new patients a month with obesity-linked issues — diabetes, sleep apnea, infertility, fatty liver, and more. This isn’t just about body weight. It’s about regaining quality of life.”
Modern sedentary habits, processed foods, screen addiction, stress, and poor sleep have created what Dr. Jolly calls a “metabolic Molotov cocktail.” For many, bariatric surgery offers a medically-backed path forward. MASSH specializes in minimally invasive procedures like gastric sleeve and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass — globally recommended for sustainable weight loss and reversal of co-morbidities.
The campaign goes beyond hospital walls. MASSH will:
Host free screenings across Ludhiana and surrounding districts
Conduct awareness sessions in schools, colleges, and workplaces
Share myth-busting digital content about obesity and surgery
Offer up to 25% financial support to economically weaker patients
“At MASSH, we combine surgical precision with empathy,” says Executive Director Hanish Bansal. “We’ve built India’s most advanced chain for bariatric care.” Founder & CEO Mansi Bansal Jhunjhunwala adds, “This is not just about weight loss — it’s about restoring health and dignity.”
As India stands at a health crossroads, ‘Obesity-Free Punjab’ is more than a campaign — it’s a wake-up call. For those silently battling obesity, it’s time to take action. Not just to lose weight, but to reclaim life.