The UAE health sector keeps pace with World Anti-Obesity Day with initiatives that promote a balanced lifestyle

The health sector in the UAE keeps pace with World Anti-Obesity Day, which falls on March 4th annually, through integrated national initiatives that focus on prevention and promoting a healthy lifestyle, according to an evidence-based scientific approach to reducing the spread of obesity.

The UAE’s efforts reflect a strategic shift from dealing with obesity as an individual problem to considering it a societal health challenge that requires the integration of health, educational and legislative policies.

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection leads the country’s efforts to combat obesity by developing national policies and implementing awareness and treatment programs based on scientific foundations and international standards.

The Ministry strengthened these efforts by launching the National Guide to Weight Management and Control of Obesity in 2025, which defines unified protocols for diagnosing and treating obesity and directs health care providers towards the best medical practices.

For its part, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi expanded its efforts in combating obesity through global strategies and concluded a memorandum of understanding with the World Obesity Federation in 2024 to exchange experiences. It also launched, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center in 2025, the first weight management program of its kind in the region, which relies on digital follow-up, individual clinical support, and an innovative model of financial compensation to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce risk factors in adults who are overweight or obese.

Dr. Badr Al Nuaimi, a consultant endocrinologist at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, said that the importance of World Anti-Obesity Day stems from the fact that obesity is a chronic disease according to the World Health Organization classification because of its wide health effects on individuals and societies, indicating that this occasion contributes to raising awareness of the importance of preventing and dealing with it as a health problem that requires early preventive and therapeutic intervention.

He explained that the participation of the United Arab Emirates in this occasion through its health institutions reflects its interest in community health and its keenness to enhance the quality of life and prevent chronic diseases related to obesity, in addition to adopting awareness and preventive programs to reduce its spread and health complications.

He pointed out that the results of the national survey for the year 2025, which was announced by the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, showed a decrease in the prevalence of obesity in the country to 22.4%, which is a positive indicator that reflects increasing community awareness and the success of awareness and preventive efforts made by health authorities, with the continued need to strengthen these efforts to further reduce obesity rates in order to preserve the health of society.

Consultant in obesity surgery and general surgery at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Dr. Muhammad Abdullah, confirmed that treating obesity begins with changing the lifestyle through balanced nutrition and physical activity, supported by medical intervention when needed, leading to surgery that has proven its effectiveness as a radical solution, which was practically embodied by conducting more than 200 obesity operations at Shakhbout Medical City during the past year using advanced robotic surgery, which provided higher accuracy, fewer complications, and tangible results.
Dr. Muhammad Al-Sabbagh, an endocrinology and diabetes consultant at Sheikh Tahnoun bin Muhammad Medical City, affiliated with SEHA, stressed that preventing obesity and reducing its spread is achieved by adopting a healthy lifestyle based on balanced nutrition and regular physical activity, pointing out the importance of practicing at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, such as brisk walking or swimming, to maintain a healthy weight.

He noted that enhancing health awareness in schools, workplaces and society is a pivotal factor in confronting obesity, as it is a shared responsibility that requires the cooperation of individuals, health, educational and media institutions.

Dr. Muhammad Fatyan, Consultant in Internal Medicine and Obesity and Medical Director of Burjeel Medical City, confirmed that obesity is a chronic and complex disease in which genetic, hormonal, behavioral and environmental factors intersect, and is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, lipid disorders, fatty liver, joint degeneration, and some types of cancer.

He added that the center’s weight management programs include customized nutritional and treatment plans, appropriate physical activity, psychological and behavioral support, and the latest internationally approved drug treatments, such as the “Monjaro” treatment, which helps control sugar levels and lose weight under specialized medical supervision.

Dr. Nour Naji, internal medicine and obesity consultant at Burjeel Medical, touched on childhood obesity, stressing that it has become an increasing health challenge that increases the risk of early chronic diseases and psychological effects. She pointed out that losing 5-10% of body weight improves health indicators and reduces risks.