MUSCAT: The increasing number of obesity cases in the Sultanate of Oman currently is the same as in other countries around the world. Obesity is one of the biggest challenges being faced by Omani society and that more than half of them are overweight or obese, with a high increase especially among women and children, according to the latest survey carried out in 2008.
This was stated by Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saeedi, Minister of Health, when he attended virtually the World Obesity Day, convened by the World Obesity Federation.
He said that obesity increases the risk of diseases and health problems associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes, along with causing severity and deaths among Covid-19 patients.
Dr Al Saeedi added that the precautionary and preventive measures taken to reduce the spread of Covid-19 have resulted in inactivity, hence the incidence of obesity and overweight has increased.
He suggested that the solution to bring change starts with individuals and ends with governments and world countries by finding social, preventive and educational solutions beyond health sector.
In his speech, Dr Al Saeedi said that the Sultanate of Oman has made tremendous achievements to enhance dietary habits such as taxing the sugar-sweetened beverages, soft drinks and energy drinks, reducing sodium intake in bread by 20 per cent, in addition to carrying out food drives to reduce sugar, fats and salt consumption.
The Sultanate of Oman, Dr Al Saeedi added has conducted awareness campaigns to foster healthy eating habits, along with organising obesity management courses, and has established obesity clinics at the level of primary healthcare. It also continues to work with non-health sectors to develop healthy cities and villages, and to ensure supportive environments that encourage active lifestyles and healthy habits.
The health minister commended the country’s efforts in the prompt global response on obesity crises, welcoming any new suggestions to develop global action plan on obesity.
The event dealt with a number of important topics on priorities and perspective to addressing obesity.
The World Obesity Day is a unified day of action which calls for a cohesive, cross-sector response to obesity crisis. Hundreds of individuals, organisations and alliances across the world contribute to World Obesity Day every year.
Previous World Obesity Days have encouraged people to recognise the root causes of obesity, increase knowledge of the disease, tackle weight stigma and foreground the voices of people with live experiences.
This year, it is focusing on the simple message that ‘Everybody Needs to Act’ to improve the world’s understanding, prevention and treatment of obesity. Moreover, the day aims at improving policies and creating a healthy environment that prioritises obesity as a health issue to build the right support systems for the future.
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