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Dr. Fuad Ahmed, Consultant - General Surgery at Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi • Obesity in the UAE is mostly associated with lifestyle factors. Specifically speaking, what are the triggers?? Yes, there is an increased intake and at the same time, quality of food is also poor, in addition to the lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle. • How much has the incidence of obesity increased in the UAE in the recent past? In UAE almost 65 % of the population is obese. • Are the cases more among youngsters or older people? All age groups are affected. • Can obesity be termed as a disease? What are the other health issues it can lead to? Yes , it is one of the leading causes of preventable death and lead to almost 100 medical problem like DM , hypertension , sleep apnea , hyperlipedimia , DVT , cancer metabolic syndrome etc, in addition that it shortens life-span of morbidly obese people by 22% compared to normal weight people. • How is obesity measured? Is being overweight obese? By body mass index: weight in kg divided by height in square meter. Over weight is not considered obese, it is one level before you become obese. Over weight is 25-29 and obesity is above 30 Kg/m2 • How successful are awareness campaigns on obesity? Not very successful, because we are still getting more and more patient who have failed dieting and are opting for surgical procedures. • What could be an ideal diet for the obese? Does frequency of meals make difference? Reduce quantity and improve quality of food gradually, and exercise to be more active. • What measures will you suggest to battle obesity in the country? More awareness campaigns to educate people about obesity, and its risks and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
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