Obesity: A new challenging Epidemic

Al Qassimi Hospital organizes Sharjah Obesity Day

Sharjah-UAE: June 27, 2013 – Al Qassimi Hospital, the largest government operated hospital in the emirate of Sharjah is holding in cooperation with the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO) the Sharjah Obesity Day.

The event will be held on June 29, 2013 at the Cultural Palace in Sharjah and will see participation from medical professionals (UAE region). The event will be led by Dr. Abdulwahid Al Wahedi, Consultant General Surgeon and Head of Department at Al Qassimi Hospital along with Dr. Tariq Mahdy, Consultant General Surgeon and Laparoscopic Surgeon.

Sharjah Obesity Day is expected to be a major medical event in the region discussing key topics including: pathophysiology, causes and metabolic aspects, treatment options, surgical complications, patient experience and Al Qassimi Hospital experiences and results.

Additionally the conference seeks to cover early complications like leaks, bleeding, and obstructions as well as possible complications that may occur after the operation.

The disease: Obesity is a serious global health problem that is according to the World Health Organization the fifth leading cause of death. It is also associated with an increased risk of diabetes, ischemic heart disease (a disease characterized by reduced blood supply to the heart and the most common cause of death in most western countries), musculoskeletal disorders (conditions that effect the nerves, tendons, muscles and supporting structures, such as the discs in your back), and even certain cancers.

The Abu Dhabi Health Authority states on its website in a release issued in March 2010 on the effects of obesity: “According to latest research, The UAE has the second highest levels of diabetes in the world, with over 20% of people in the region suffering from this life threatening disorder. (…) This level is expected to rise to 24% of the population by 2025 (World Health Organization). (Wild et al. 2004) As the population grows in the UAE these figures are expected to increase further still.”

The cost of the operation at the Al Qassimi Hospital is set between AED 12,000-13,000 and for UAE Nationals free of charge.

Dr. Abdulwahid Al Wahedi said: “At the Al Qassimi Hospital 900 operations have been carried out within a period of three years since the establishment of the Bariatric Surgery Department in 2010. The duration of an operation depending on the type is between one to two hours. The bypass surgery takes around one and a half to two hours and the sleeve gastrectomy one hour.”

He added: “We recommend every individual to control their eating habits and try to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Very cheap groceries should be avoided best possible way. They contain usually higher levels of calories. The best treatment for oneself is prevention.”

For more information on obesity and registration at the conference (applies for medical professionals only and registration is free of charge) Dr. Abdulwahid Al Wahedi and Dr. Tariq can be contacted on abdulwahid66@hotmail.com or tmahdy@yahoo.com