Obesity remains the number one health concern in the UAE

With over 250 million obese adults worldwide, the World Health Organization considers obesity to be a global epidemic and a major public health problem. In the UAE recent studies show that at least 70 per cent of married women and 56 per cent of married men were either overweight or obese, making obesity one of the top health agendas in the emirates.

'Obesity has reached alarming proportions in the Middle East as over 45 per cent of women in the 15-49 age group are overweight or obese, there has been increased emphasis on the care of hypertension and heart disease but obesity is still not being treated effectively. Thus, the need to tackle issues related to obesity more aggressively,' said Professor Philip James a leading international obesity expert and Chairman of the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and Director of the Public Health Policy Group (UK).

Professor James has played a leading role in raising international awareness of obesity. As chairman of IOTF, he gathered together a large group of leading international experts to produce a report, now adopted by WHO, which documents the growing levels of obesity and proposes ways in which countries can tackle this global problem.

As part of a series of lectures aiming to address the growing prevalence of obesity in the region, Professor James is scheduled to revisit the UAE from February 4th to the 9th to address over 200 doctors in Dubai. The visit will cover recent developments in weight management and will highlight ways on how to effectively tackle obesity. A presentation of a new study which is seen to offer new hope to patients will be among the key topics in the symposium.

Dr James added, 'Recent studies have confirmed WHO's views that a combination of activity, diet control and medication will aid weight loss. Sibutramine is one of these approved medications which has been shown to be effective in the fight against obesity, once a patient has been identified as being appropriate for the treatment the rewards are visible. A patient that has undergone relevant behavior modification therapies stands a greater chance of losing weight when they undergo the full regime than one who hasn't.'