(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Obesity, a major risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, is being treated at Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) National Obesity Treatment Center through a unique bariatric and weight management service. The Center, which is part of the Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI), is caring for those who have the highest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or other related conditions.
Type 2 diabetes is a complex metabolic disease characterised by insulin resistance and progressive failure of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). It is a chronic condition that affects the way sugar (glucose) is metabolised and develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin, or when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.
Dr Monica Skarulis, Director of the National Obesity Treatment Center, says that if obesity is treated and the affected individual is able to reduce his or her weight to a healthier range, the progression to Type 2 diabetes can be slowed or even stopped. 'Our mission at the National Obesity Treatment Center is to find those people who fall into the obese category and motivate them to lose between five to seven percent of their body weight in order to prevent diabetes.
'Most people with diabetes are overweight or obese. Some research estimates that obesity increases one's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by well over 50 percent which makes it a major risk factor that can be influenced, unlike risk factors that cannot, such as family history, age, and ethnicity. While the development of Type 2 diabetes depends on a combination of risk factors, lifestyle changes around eating, physical activity, and weight loss can significantly reduce one's risk of developing the disease, said Dr Skarulis.
Close to 60 percent of Qatar's population below the age of 30 years is thought to be obese, with more than 70 percent of the population considered overweight or obese. This underscores the importance of providing effective and compassionate care for the prevention of weight-related diseases.
'Since weight-related diseases are so common amongst our population, we need to focus on those with the highest risk of metabolic complications. An important indicator of that risk is a high body mass index (BMI), which takes into account the height and weight of the individual; however, it is important to note that among patients with a high BMI there are metabolically healthy and metabolically unhealthy individuals, said Dr Skarulis.
Located in building 311 in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City, the National Obesity Treatment Center is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of bariatric physicians, endocrinologists, dietitians, physiotherapists, and nurses who coordinate care and develop personalized plans for each patient.
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