Obesity Awareness Session – Hormone Day

As the prevalence of obesity continues to rise reaching 32% of the Lebanese adult population with a significant increase in the rate of obesity in children and adolescent 1. Leading voices in healthcare are coming together to highlight the critical importance of treating obesity as a disease at a national level. 

The sheer magnitude of the obesity challenge is staggering, impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of people and placing an unsustainable economic strain on health systems all over the world2-3. 

“Recognised as a disease by the World Health Organization, obesity is a serious and chronic condition that needs to be followed by a specialist. It often puts people on the pathway to other diseases – not only diabetes but heart and liver diseases, cancers and many more” explained Doctor Mireille Amm, President of the Lebanese society of endocrinology, diabetes and lipids.  

“Worldwide prevalence of obesity more than doubled between 1990 and 2022. In 2022, WHO estimated that 37 million children under the age of 5-year-old were overweight, and 390 million children and adolescents aged 5 – 19 years old, being on the rise especially in low- and middle-income countries including among lower socio-economic groups.  In Lebanon, a study performed at the American university of Beirut in 2017, estimated prevalence of overweight to be 6.5% of children population and obesity 2.7%, with significant predictors including higher socio-economic status4” added Doctor Ghada El hajj Chehade.

“Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is associated with higher risks of noncommunicable diseases, mainly, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases and neurological disorders. Childhood and adolescent obesity have adverse psychological consequences as well, affecting children school performance and quality of life, compounded by stigma, discrimination and bullying” continued Doctor Chehade.

“In addition, individuals living with obesity frequently face stigma, discrimination and mental health problems”, added Doctor Leila Akoury Dirani. “Psychological factors play a significant role in both the development and management of obesity. Hence, it is imperative to offer individuals struggling with obesity the emotional and psychological support necessary for sustainable change”.

Obesity cannot be attributed to a lack of willpower, or personal choice. Obesity is the result of a complex interaction of multiple internal and external factors, including biological, genetic, psychological and environmental factors. Obesity is a manageable disease and long-term weight management is possible5. 

Doctor Nathalie Yaghi emphasizes the significance of tailored dietary interventions and lifestyle modifications in addressing obesity. The advancement of science has led to the availability of pharmacotherapy treatment which are making a profound difference to the individual lives of those affected by obesity.  “The integration of pharmacotherapy alongside lifestyle modifications and other therapeutic modalities represents a significant advancement in the comprehensive care of individuals with obesity”. noted Doctor Amm.

Furthermore, the role of bariatric surgery in the comprehensive management of obesity is highlighted by Doctor Rodrigue Chemaly. “Bariatric surgery, when indicated, forms a crucial part of the treatment continuum for severe obesity. However, it is essential that surgical intervention is integrated into a comprehensive care plan that includes pre-operative evaluation, post-operative support, and long-term monitoring," emphasized Doctor Chemaly.

Recognizing obesity as a multifaceted disease requiring a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach, experts in endocrinology, dietetics, bariatric surgery, and psychology are emphasizing the urgent need for a national effort to establish comprehensive care pathways to support people with obesity in their treatment journey and ultimately, improve their health outcomes.

About Hormone Day

Hormone Day brings together the endocrine community to promote endocrine health. Many people have an idea of what hormones are, but do not really know what hormones do or how individuals can improve their endocrine health. Discussing obesity in the context of Hormone Day allows for a comprehensive exploration of the endocrine factors contributing to weight management and metabolic health.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 72,000 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com. Contacts for further information

Media:

Diane kassis

MAPA Manager – Novo Nordisk Lebanon

[email protected]

+961 3 024657

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References

1. World Health Organization [Internet]. Accessed on March 4, 2025. Available at : https://applications.emro.who.int/docs/WHOEMNUT298E-eng.pdf?ua=1#:~:text=A%20significant%20increase%20in%20the,2000%20to%2032.9%25%20in%202016.

2. The Economic Impact of Overweight & Obesity in 2020 and 2060 [Internet]. World Obesity. Accessed on  6th  March 2025. Available at: WOF-Economic-Impacts-2-V2.pdf 

3. World Obesity Atlas 2024 [Internet]. World Obesity. Accessed on 6th March 2024. Available at: WOF-Obesity-Atlas-v7.pdf 

4. Reference: prevalence and correlated of present overweight and obesity amidst the nutrition transition: findings from a national cross-sectional study in Lebanon, Nasreddine L. et al. 20.

5. Understanding Obesity [Internet]. Obesity Canada. Available at: https://obesitycanada.ca/understanding-obesity/#1