Specialists from Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland organize a conference on the art of ageing

The theme of focus was weight control and reduction of obesity which not only prevents disease and increases self esteem but also adds quality years to our life.

It teaches healthier eating habits and regular exercise regimens that can enhance wellness - the quality of being in good health.

Dr. Anne Laurent-Jaccard, MD Internal Medicine, Vice President of the Swiss Association for the Study of Metabolism and Obesity and Consultant at CLP has treated patients of different age groups for obesity and eating disorders for the past 25 years. Dr. Anne Laurent-Jaccard spoke comprehensively about the factors that lead to better weight control especially those related to metabolism.

"Metabolism is our body's energy burn rate. If we don't obtain enough energy when dieting, we destroy our muscles and eventually gain more weight than we first lost. Therefore, it is mandatory to respect our individual needs and sensations when eating and to engage in regular physical activity," says Dr. Laurent-Jaccard, "This leads to a healthier lifestyle, younger inside out and higher quality health which could increase life expectancy."

Yael Bruigom, CLP's Marketing and PR Manager also presented and mentioned the following important words, "Healthy Eating is an educational process. The better we are at it, the more it adds success in pursuing our goal by not just adding quality to life, but more life to our years."

Bruigom adds, "Clinique La Prairie of Montreux, Switzerland, has long been the acknowledged leader in preventing and treating age-related conditions, restoring youthful energy and enhancing the quality of life. Its single-minded commitment to turning back the hands of time, backed up a worldwide reputation for medical excellence and participation in groundbreaking scientific research, has earned the clinic its peerless position as a A Center of Excellence in Rejuvenation."

Nutrition and Lifestyle in the UAE

It is important to mention that the incidence of obesity in the UAE is amongst the highest in the world. Some studies estimate it to be close to 70%. This is hugely attributed to lifestyle and diet.

As per the Emirates National Diabetes Study (ENCAD) held in UAE, 74% of the random group studied were either obese or overweight, while 25% of UAE nationals are obese says a UAE specialist.

Obesity has reached alarming proportions in the Middle East as over 45% of women in the 15-49 age group are overweight or obese, said a leading international obesity expert. Professor Philip James, chairman of the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and director of the Public Health Policy Group in the UK also warned that while there has been increased emphasis on the care of hypertension and heart disease, obesity is still not being treated effectively.

James said that obesity was a far greater threat in the Middle East region, compared to developed countries like the USA or Japan.

Dr. Layla Al Marzouqi, Cardiologist and head of Community Service Center in Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences says, "There are over one billion people overweight globally, and that if current trends continue, that number will increase to 2.3 adults by 2015 and more than 700 million will be obese. In 005 WHO estimated that there are at least 20 million children under the age of 5 years who are overweight globally. Overweight and obesity is not a problem for adults only but also reaches children."

"Overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low and middle income countries. This is due to a number of factors, including a global shift in diet towards increased energy, fat, salt and sugar intake, and a trend towards decreased physical activity due to the sedentary nature of modern work and transportation, and increasing urbanization. If action is not taken now, an overwhelming chronic disease burden will take place in these countries in the next 10 to 20 years," Al Marzouqi said.

Dr. Al Marzouqi added, 'Overweight and obesity are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death and accounts for over 17 million deaths every year. Approximately 80% of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancer could be avoided through healthy diet, regular physical activity and avoidance of tobacco use. High levels of overweight and obesity prevalence exist in U.A.E particularly among women as per studies in 2005."

According to WHO, more than 75% of women over the age of 30 are now overweight in the UAE (latest studies in 2005).

Dietary Guidelines encourage people to choose healthy foods, stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight by balancing calorie intake with calories burned. They provide more detailed information regarding which foods to eat and how much, food groups and their relation to disease prevention, the dietary needs of specific population groups, and activity levels to encourage weight loss.