MoH and J&J join forces to act on obesity
Obesity rates reach alarming levels in country
KUWAIT CITY, May 25: With one in five adults predicted to be obese worldwide by 2025 , obesity has become a global health pandemic escalating at an alarming rate. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is no exception, with 26 million people classed as severely obese.
In its severe state, obesity is a deadly medical condition attributing to T2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and ultimately shortened lifespans. In Kuwait, the prevalence of obesity is extremely high, with the country ranked amongst the top 10 most obese countries in the world , while childhood obesity is also on the rise with 24 percent of school children classed as obese. If this rise in obesity continues, it will impose greater individual, social and economic costs. Obesity is therefore, undeniably, a serious public health concern in Kuwait and there is an urgent need for action.
Worshop
As part of a strong commitment to addressing obesity in the region, Johnson & Johnson, in collaboration with the Kuwait Ministry of Health, recently participated in an ‘Obesity Strategy Workshop’, which brought together local experts in obesity, key opinion leaders and government officials. The workshop marked the first steps in addressing the obesity crisis in Kuwait with a view to developing a comprehensive strategy intended to ease the burden of this lifethreatening disease for patients and their families.
“We know that obesity is a complex disease caused by multiple factors, all of which work to disrupt the body’s fat regulation” said Dr. Nadia Ahmad, MD, MPH – Obesity Medicine Expert. “To effectively combat this condition requires the assessment of solutions across sectors and development of a comprehensive intervention strategy. This workshop is testament to how collaborations between the government and the private sector can ultimately help to tackle one of the top social burdens generated by human beings worldwide.”
Commenting on the collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Johnson & Johnson, Jamie Phares, Business Unit Director for Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) said, “We are honored to have participated in this first-of-its kind initiative and we admire the work completed by the Ministry of Health to date, in the area of obesity. Johnson & Johnson are pleased to have been able to lend our expertise to discussions surrounding prevention and treatment strategies during this landmark event and looking ahead, we hope to continue working alongside the Ministry in creating a comprehensive framework and taskforce to help drive change and fight the obesity crisis in Kuwait.”