The UAE Obesity Masterclass V.2 has concluded on a high note, stressing the importance of concerted public and private sectors’ efforts to address obesity which is a major concern for healthcare systems world over. 

 

The one-day event concluded that stepping up awareness-raising campaigns, enhancing the knowledge, skills and competence of specialized doctors and healthcare professionals, opening new obesity clinics, and holding scientific conferences and workshops, will significantly impact the prevalence of obesity in the UAE.

 

Moreover, the participants hailed the UAE government's plans and programs tailored to combat obesity. The results of the UAE National Health Survey 2017-2018 showed that the prevalence of obesity dropped to 27.8% among adults over the age of 18, up from 37.2% in 2010.

 

Dr. Ayman Hassan, Vice President and UAE General Manager at Novo Nordisk stressed that the objective of the UAE Obesity Masterclass is to support enhancing the treatment of obesity in the UAE, in line with the UAE National Agenda 2021. 

He added: “The masterclass also aimed to promote obesity treatment and to offer operational guidelines for specialists in relation to establishing obesity clinics and centers”.

 

“The second edition of the masterclass discussed the practical and effective methods to improve the treatment of obesity at the clinical level, in addition to sharing inspiring local and international experiences on treatment journeys and promoting the effective and optimal use of conversation and treatment tools to ensure a successful obesity consultation”, Dr. Hassan further said.

 

 “Since obesity has become a chronic multifactorial disease that requires long-term management, the obesity masterclass addressed obstacles facing the quality management of obesity from the perspective of both patients and healthcare professionals”, the UAE VP & General Manager at Novo Nordisk said.

 

Dr. Aseel Nassar, Public Affairs Advisor at Novo Nordisk, said: “The scientific sessions of the masterclass have discussed the latest research and clinical approaches regarding obesity in the presence of top experts and specialists from public and private bodies, who exchanged their views on obesity. The discussions covered a wide range of areas, including the management and treatment of obesity, barriers to the early treatment, and the high cost of healthcare systems as well as the complications of not reporting obesity, like other chronic diseases, which are similar in prevalence and health consequences. '

 

Dr. Nassar added “the masterclass is a key part of our plans that we are working on, and we will continue developing ways and methods of improving awareness of obesity treatment in cooperation with experts and specialists. We will make sure that people with obesity are the center of our initiatives and activities, which support the outstanding efforts being made by public and private health authorities to reduce the prevalence of obesity in the country, in accordance with the National Agenda 2021.