Jebel Ali Hospital conducts CME on morbid obesity

This is just one of the many initiatives undertaken by the hospital which offers opportunities to medical practitioners to keep abreast with the latest trends in the medical field. The continued medical education program (CME) featured a series of talks and discussions on the latest global research and current lines of treatment available for obesity.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a person is considered "obese" when he or she weighs 20 percent or more than his or her ideal body weight or BMI (weight in kg/height m2). At that point, the person's weight poses a serious health risk. Obesity becomes "morbid" when it significantly increases the risk of one or more obesity-related serious health conditions or diseases (also known as co-morbidities). Morbid obesity—sometimes called "clinically severe obesity"—is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or higher with co-morbidities. As a treatment option, non surgical traditional diet plans do not address the root problem and thus surgical weight loss options are recommended for this category. These include gastric banding, Sleeve gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass surgeries which can be done laparoscopically. 80% of patients achieve more than 50% of excess weight loss over two years.

"The workshop came in wake of the alarming increase witnessed in the obese population. Research has consistently pointed towards sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits along with genetic predisposition as significant contributors," said Dr. Girish Juneja, Specialist Laparoscopic & Bariatric Surgeon at Jebel Ali Hospital. "Not only does the condition influence physical health adversely, as those affected are faced with a danger of being afflicted with several debilitating diseases such as diabetes, hypertension or serious heart condition; it also has a negative bearing on self esteem and can lead to several psychological disorders," continued Dr. Juneja.

Dr. Girish Juneja also highlighted the social implications of obesity like low self-esteem and depression, impaired employment prospects, increased industrial accidents, restricted access to public amenities, relationship difficulties and society prejudice. He added that such chronic implications cannot be neglected and therefore treatment should be administered at the right time.

The UAE has registered a significant increase in obesity prevalence in recent years. Several residents are increasingly making their way to the weight loss clinics. Despite the growing awareness of obesity and its complications, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people who are seriously obese. In this context, the seminar, which was highly commended by the attendees, seems perfectly timed.