The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) organized, recently, an awareness event for obesity control at City Centre Mirdif. The event witnessed a high turnout of the center’s visitors who were keen to take advantage of the free check-ups and educational tips presented on the dedicated podium.

In the meantime, school students took the podium enthusiastically and engaged in a painting competition reflecting their aspirations and opinions regarding obesity control.

The event was organized by MoHAP’s Hospitals Sector under the theme “You Make the Change: For Your Health – Your Family – Your Ambitions”, and with the participation of a number of nutritionists, endocrinologists, diabetes doctors, and clinical pharmacists.

The aim of this activity is to raise awareness about obesity hazards. In this regard, the National Agenda 2021 is seeking to reduce rates of cancer disease, as well as diabetes and heart diseases where obesity is considered a key factor in these diseases. 

National Plans to Reduce Obesity Rates

H.E. Dr. Yousif Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospitals Sector, said: “The Ministry has an ongoing challenge with obesity hazards, in cooperation with the relevant government and private authorities. To that end, the Ministry developed a wide range of programmes and initiatives to reduce obesity rates in the country.”

Al Serkal shed light on MoHAP’s achievements in terms of obesity control, pointing to the inauguration of specialized clinics for obesity and endocrine at Al Qassimi Hospital and the Family Health Promotion Centre, Sharjah. These specialized places depend on the 

approved therapeutic medications and international protocols in obesity control without surgical intervention and along with a special diet for each case.

He noted that bariatric surgeries are performed in a number of the Ministry’s hospitals with the existence of a distinguished medical staff and new equipment.   

For her part, Dr. Aml Al Awady, Director of Pharmacy Department, stressed the importance of such events for obesity control since it’s related to a number of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, and hypertension.

She added that the Ministry has approved two innovative medications for obesity control. One of them is in the form of injection and the other is tablets.

It is worth mentioning that MoHAP’s survey for measuring the prevalence of obesity in 2018 showed that obesity among men is 25.1% and among women is 30.6%. The survey relied on the BMI (Body Mass Index) in measuring obesity.