Hamad Medical Corporation Promotes Awareness of Obesity Hazards

Doha, February 28 (QNA) - Hamad Medical Corporation is celebrating World Obesity Day through awareness activities for the public at Hamad General Hospital until next March 3, with the aim of promoting awareness of the dangers of obesity and ways to treat it and help patients reduce excess weight. The Corporation said that the diagnosis and treatment services for obese patients are currently available in six of its facilities, namely Hamad General Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital, the Ambulatory Care Center, Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital, the Cuban Hospital, and the National Obesity Center. The number of treatment visits to these facilities exceeds 10,000 annual visit since the establishment of the Department of Obesity Medicine and Surgery in 2011, which includes 9 physicians and 13 bariatric surgeons, nutritionists, physiotherapists, health educators as well as medical and administrative coordinators. Head of the Department of Obesity Medicine and Surgery at Hamad Medical Corporation Dr. Moataz Basha said that the continuation of the activities of the World Obesity Day, which is held this year under the slogan "Let us all stand together in the face of obesity" is an opportunity to involve the largest number of members of the public and hospital visitors to learn about the services provided by Hamad Medical Corporation for the treatment of obesity and reduce its spread, pointing to the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and combating obesity among all age groups. For his part, Dr. Mohammed Ali Al-Sharif, a consultant in endocrinology and obesity medicine at Hamad Medical Corporation, explained that the Department of Obesity Medicine and Surgery provides consultations and treatment plans to lose weight for obese patients through drug treatments or surgical interventions for some patients, in line with the National Health Strategy, which aims to reduce rates of obesity. He pointed out that the department launched several academic programs in the field of medical education, including a three-year fellowship program in obesity medicine for physicians. The first Qatari doctor specializing in obesity medicine was graduated in 2021. In addition, doctors of the Department of Obesity Medicine and Surgery have prepared more than 120 various research papers that have been presented and published in local, regional and international specialized medical conferences. Preparing more than 120 various research papers that have been presented and published in local, regional and international specialized medical conferences. For her part, Director of Nutrition at the Primary Health Care Corporation Moudhi Hamad Al-Hajri , explained that the Corporation celebrates every year the occasion of the International Obesity Day to raise awareness about the problems of overweight and obesity and to strengthen joint efforts and the necessary capabilities, in order to combat it and reduce its complications on the health of members of the Qatari society. She said within the interest in the therapeutic and diagnostic services provided in the field of overweight and obesity, many primary health centers, specialized therapeutic nutrition clinics and advanced treatment technologies, which adopts the latest international specifications and standards in diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, have been provided. She added that the Primary Care Corporation focused on launching several preventive health plans, initiatives and programs in order to reduce the spread of obesity in the Qatari community, while encouraging medical cadres and therapeutic dietitians to prepare scientific research and studies and review reports issued locally and regionally, which highlight the importance of concerted efforts and community partnership, to reduce the spread of obesity, to reduce the factors leading to it and to continue to disseminate messages and awareness goals necessary to enhance the health of the body among individuals of all age groups and reduce the incidence of obesity and its complications by reducing and avoiding wrong behaviors and unhealthy patterns. (QNA)