Healthcare | Saturday 4 February, 2017 2:01 am |

Two Hundreds of professionals are gathered today, at Conrad Hotel Dubai, for the Obesity Care & Cure Congress organized in collaboration with Gruppo Ospedaliero San Donato – the leading group of private hospitals and clinics in Italy. The full day event, includes scientific lectures and workshops focusing on the combat and treat of obesity, diabetes and related health problems, and counts with the participation of international experts in this field.
The first session is dedicated to medical implications and treatment of obesity and diabetes. Giving an overview of obesity worldwide, Lelio Morricone, Director of Clinical Nutrition and Cardiovascular prevention Unit at the Policlinico san Donato, in Milan, Italy, talks about “globesity”. “Experts warn that, for the first time in history, the obesity epidemic will decrease life expectancy over the next decade in high income countries. Moreover, if not curbed, obesity and its complications such as hypetension or diabetes will bankrupt health care systems in the next 1-2 decades”, he states.
Dr. Emanuele Bosi, Chief of the diabetes Research Institute at San Raffaele Hospital, Italy, is focusing his presentation on drug treatments in obesity. He considers that “obesity often leads to metabolic syndrome but the diagnosis can be avoided with a change in lifestyle habits that contribute to weight gain.  For instance, the loss of 5-10% of body weight can reduce risk factors of cardiovascular problems or even prevent developing diabetes type II by 58%.”  Dr. Emanuele adds: "There are kinds of drugs that work on the treatment of obesity in the long term and help improving the reduction of body fat or limit appetite and increase the feeling of satiety, but some of them have side effects so its intake should always be medically supervised. It’s also crucial to complement drugs with regular physical activity and a healthy diet.”
“Most drug treatments have been proposed and withdrawn due to its side effects, now we have a few novel drug treatments for obesity where studies have shown that a high dosage when used have a tremendous effect in obesity treatment. It is a comprehensive treatment where you need psyciatrists, pschyholigts, nutritionits and the surgeon as a team to ensure success in weight loss. This treatment is not for everybody but patients who are compliant and motivated. “added Dr. Emanuele Bosi.
The conference will also focus on topics such as: prevention and research in diabetes resulting from obesity; different techniques of obesity surgery; obese patient’s management; and three live surgery cases to be performed in one of San Donato’s obesity surgery centers in Milan and commented by an expert panel in Dubai.

Talking about the event, Dr. Francesco Magro, Head of International Development – Middle East for Gruppo San Donato, says the impressive attendance of this integrated event on obesity is a witness to how much the topic is relevant globally and in the middle east society. The variety of specialists, health professionals, clinicians involved is particularly impressive and shows that nowadays the treatment of obesity as a disease requires a multi-disciplinary team effort.