Danger of obesity to be highlighted at free SKMC public lecture

Topics to be addressed include diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, as well as treating obesity through surgery.

ABU DHABI // Doctors will highlight the dangerous consequences of obesity at a free public lecture today that aims to educate those at risk. The lecture, "Walking Away from Obesity", will be held at 5.15pm at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC). Topics to be addressed include the diseases related to obesity, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, as well as treating obesity through surgery. The UAE has one of the world's highest rates of childhood obesity, according to the United Nations, affecting one in eight children. "The invitation is directed to the public from all ages, and we highly encourage them to attend this gathering to help raise their awareness about healthy lifestyles and obesity prevention," said Dr Abdelrahman Nimeri, director of the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute of Abu Dhabi at SKMC. Dr Nimeri, one of the presenters at the event, said the lecture would help people understand the dangers of obesity, as well as provide them with tools on how to make healthy lifestyle choices. Dr Mohammed al Haddad, a specialist surgeon at the institute, said the lecture can be a chance for morbidly obese individuals, those who have a body mass index of more than 40, to learn about medical and surgical treatment options. "We look forward to seeing different categories, either patients who already had surgeries or those who are being evaluated for surgery, or even healthy people who would like to improve their lifestyle and broaden their knowledge to remain fit and healthy," he said. Data released during this week's 1st International Abu Dhabi Diabetes Congress revealed that a third of Emiratis aged 18 to 75 in Abu Dhabi are overweight, and more than a third of those overweight are clinically obese. [e-mail]