Serious health problems like cancer, heart attack, high blood pressure, asthma and other non communicable diseases (NCD) have increased due to negative food habit, smoking and tobacco consumption.
Health experts on Tuesday made such observations at a workshop in the city.
They also noted that treatment expenditures of the diseases are very expensive and   time consuming.
The workshop titled "Sylhet Divisional Workshop on NCD and Tobacco Control" was organized by Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, a local non-government organisation, in the city.
Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, Secretary of SUJON, a local civil society organization, said that mental morale was very important to keep people healthy.
Referring to importance of laws to save environment and health, he noted that new laws need to be adopted and existing laws should be implemented.
"Having good food and regular physical exercises can keep us healthy and sound but we need to give up smoking," he said.
Abu Naser Khan, Chairman of Poribesh Bachao  Andolon (POBA), said that human induced pollution is a posing serious threat to public health and to save environment and people's life all need to work together.
Dr Enamul Haque, former Inspector General of Police and ex-member of Law Commission, said that it is possible to protect public health by preventing all NCDs such as stroke, diabetics and cancer, "We can improve public health through maintaining positive lifestyle and healthy diet by avoiding tobacco and harmful drugs. It can also reduce deaths from NCDs," He said.
Engineer Abdus Sobhan, Chief General Secretary of POBA, said that food adulteration  using excessive chemicals and pesticides in the agriculture sector are responsible for NCDs.
People's movement is being limited due to fast urbanization which is causing  obesity and excessive pressure, he said.