Endocrinology Conference takes place in Al Ain University

Endocrine disorders are a major health issue, causing a range of conditions, including diabetes, infertility, osteoporosis and obesity.

Abbott Laboratories, one of the world's leading healthcare companies, was a sponsor of the daylong update. Organised by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FHMS), the conference was part of a programme of continuing medical education (CME) to update the medical community on common endocrine disorders encountered in the outpatient setting.

A number of key opinion leaders in endocrinology spoke at the meeting, which was attended by around 100 healthcare professionals from the UAE and other Middle East countries. Professor Ibrahim Salti of the American University of Beirut Medical Center gave a guest lecture.

There were sessions on thyroid disorders, reproductive disorders, calcium and bone disorders, pituitary and adrenal disorders and obesity. Doctor Hussein Saadi, Assistant Professor of Endocrinology of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences coordinated the meeting.

"Gatherings like this are central to the development of healthcare within the UAE," said Ibrahim Aql, General Manager, Abbott Laboratories Gulf Region. "The field of endocrinology covers a wide spectrum of health concerns which affect many individuals and their families. Our company stands firmly in support of arenas which enable health professionals to share and learn about new treatments."

The international healthcare company recently launched a revolutionary weight management drug. Reductil is taken once daily and works centrally in the brain, causing patients to feel satisfied with smaller portions of food.

Obesity is a chronic medical condition that is associated with a number of secondary diseases and medical complications. Research has indicated that obese individuals are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, certain forms of cancer, gallstones, certain respiratory disorders and an increase in overall mortality.

Reductil has been shown to help obese patients lose 5 percent to 10 percent of their initial body weight and helps patients maintain their weight loss in the long-term. According to a recent study published in the British medical magazine The Lancet, Reductil is up to five times more effective than diet and exercise alone.