Canadian Specialist Hospital (CSH), one of the largest private hospitals in Dubai catering to the tertiary health care needs of the Middle East, has commenced operations in a new Obesity Clinic at the hospital's Oud Metha branch. The much-needed clinic is the first of its kind in the UAE where obesity is becoming worryingly prevalent, and it addresses the condition through counseling and surgery. The clinic was established by Dr Ali Reza Eghtedari, Consultant Surgeon and one of the pioneer in Laparoscopic Surgery in the UAE under the guidance of Dr. Karl Miller, President of the International Society of Obesity Surgery.
The CSH Obesity Clinic offers a complete solution to obesity, and despite its reliance on surgical methods to achieving weight loss, each case is considered separately and recommendations are made based on the patient's condition. CSH aims to help its patients to understand the surgical procedure to weight loss, its consequences, and the lifestyle practices that are involved.
Research done by the Ministry of Health in the UAE, shows that 20% of the population and 18% of children here are obese. These findings prove that the issue is growing at an alarming rate, and there is an urgent need for medical intervention and control.
"Obese people from all walks of life face stigma and pressure from society, which in many cases deters them from seeking help for this problem. We at CSH believe that people need a space where they are comfortable to talk about their problem, while at the same time explaining that they might require medical attention for related problems like diabetes, cardiological conditions, blood pressure, etc. The Obesity Clinic at CSH is the only one of its kind in the UAE that gives them this comfort while providing complete medical assistance", said Dr. Ali Reza Eghtedari, Consultant Surgeon at CSH.
Once a patient walks into the Obesity Clinic, they are examined based on their Body Mass Index (BMI) and eating habits, since an Obese patient broadly falls into 3 categories: overweight, obese and severely obese. Based on their BMI, co morbidities, social and eating behavior the appropriate treatment is then advised. While an overweight person does not need to undergo surgery due to the medical risk associated with it, a severely obese person has no other option but to undergo surgery in order to lose weight. Each case is tackled individually depending on the patient's condition.
After initial consultations at the clinic, the patient is shifted to the hospital facility in Deira, where an in-house team of doctors from all departments is available round the clock in case any complications related to the surgery arise, and adequate medical facilities and care are provided. At the clinic, reading material is provided to patients to help them understand the procedure better, and group sessions are held to support patients fight obesity together without any discomfiture.
CSH is starting the fight against obesity by creating public awareness about the problems that come along with obesity and the choices obese people have to combat their weight issues. While surgery might not be the only solution, for many in different parts of the world it has proved to be successful, as long as adequate medical support is available.
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