Muscat: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has launched two projects to combat obesity in the Sultanate of Oman.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) in collaboration with Novo Nordisk Pharma Gulf and Danish Embassy launched today (Thursday) at the Ministry of Health (MOH) headquarters two pilot projects namely: “Oman Obesity Clinical Practise Guidelines” which will educate health care professionals on how to proactively and efficiently engage in medical management of obesity.
The second project is “Obesity Epidemiology Study” estimating the prevalence of obesity related comorbidities in the hospital setting and prevalence of the top ten comorbidities will be assessed in Oman.
The two projects were launched in a meeting under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Ole Emil Moesby, Ambassador of Denmark to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Yemen.
Drawing attention to the rise in obesity related health issues worldwide, H.E. Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi spoke at the meeting expressing concern that obesity is taking a toll not only on the well-being of individuals, but also on the well-being of societies. Obesity also hampers productivity and puts strain on healthcare systems and economies.
Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the global issue that is the obesity epidemic. Poor nutrition coupled with technology that enables a sedentary lifestyle to have been linked with a rise in the disease.
A recent cross-sectional community-based survey of the population of Oman found that almost two-thirds 66 percent of the population was overweight or had obesity (BMI ≥ 25).
Having been associated with alarming 195 health impairments and a major risk factor in chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes and various types of cancer, obesity is fast becoming one of the most serious health problems in the world.
