SAMI ABDUL RAOUF (DUBAI)

A new study conducted by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) in cooperation with other health authorities has shown that the incidence of obesity among adults reached 27.8% nationwide, with 30.6% of women and 25.1% of men suffering from obesity.

The percentage of obesity among citizens reached 36.9% and 26.3% among residents, according to the study. Obesity increases the risk of many chronic health conditions, such as stroke, heart disease, high blood cholesterol, blood pressure, fatty liver, and pregnancy complications, osteoporosis, and diabetes.

The study indicated that the obesity rate in Abu Dhabi reached 35.9%, with a rate of 22.2% in Dubai, 24.4% in Sharjah, 39.1% in Ajman, 36.7% in Umm Al Quwain, over 38% in Ras Al Khaimah, and 39.1% in Fujairah.

Obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat and a body mass index of over 30. The study explained that body mass index is subdivided into five levels, with a range of 8.5-24.99 considered normal, a range of 25-29.99 indicating “pre-obesity”, 30-34.99 representing first-degree obesity, 35-39.99 indicating second-degree obesity, and an index of over 40 representing third-degree obesity - the most health-hazardous stage.

Weight-reduction Surgeries

The study also revealed that over 13,000 weight-reduction surgeries were performed across the public and private healthcare sector over the past three years, 68% of which were gastric band surgeries (LAP- Band), 27% of which were bypass surgeries, and 5% were gastric sleeve operations.

Gastric band surgery (LAP- Band) is a type of bariatric surgical treatment for obesity that works by constricting the stomach so that a person feels full after eating less food than usual. This treatment is performed laparoscopically.

Gastric bypass surgery helps individuals lose weight by altering how the stomach and small intestine handle food after consumption by decreasing the size of the stomach, making the individual feel full with a lower quantity of food.

The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical treatment in which the surgeon removes a large portion of the stomach, approximately 70-80% of the stomach’s size, meaning that ultimately around one-third of the stomach’s size remains. As the size of the stomach is decreased following the surgery, the stomach’s carrying capacity is significantly reduced as compared to before the operation.

In terms of surgical obesity treatments, 59% are performed on females and 41% on males, with citizens representing 82% of the total 13,000 surgeries mentioned in the study, with residents comprising 18%.

The 20-29 age group sees the highest demand for weight-reduction surgeries at a rate of 30.6%, followed ages 30-39 years at a rate of 28%, ages 40-49 years at a rate of 15%, and children and youth between 10-19 representing 10.4%. The remaining percentage is distributed among other age groups, according to the study.

Health authorities in the country are working to raise public awareness on the dangers of obesity and have implemented a package of initiatives and programmes to reduce the prevalence of obesity and promote healthy lifestyles, which encourages the public to consume nutritious food and ensure regular physical activity.

In 2005, the World Obesity Federation announced that obesity-linked health complications cost $1.2 trillion annually, as obesity and smoking are the key factors behind the increase in rates of cancer, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes around the world.

A report issued by the World Health Organisation predicted that 2.7 billion adults around the world will suffer from overweight and obesity by 2025.