Biography
Biography: Osman El-Labban
Abstract
Obesity is becoming a major public health problem representing the most prevalent nutritional problem in the world. Obesity prevalence is escalating affecting almost one-third (2.1 billion) of the world population and with an expectation of further increase to reach half of the population by 2030. Obese individuals are less productive in work and their health care expenditure puts an increased burden on the health care system.
There are many reasons for obesity among which are an increase in the availability and consumption of larger portions and higher calories of junk foods & sweetened drinks in addition to increased inactivity with sedentary lifestyles, some endocrine diseases, stress and depression, use of some obesogenic drugs and few genetic syndromes.
Primary Healthcare plays an important role in addressing obesity problem being the first‑line of contact in healthcare settings, such an ideal settings which allows for negotiations and counseling obese patients leading to adoption of healthy lifestyle in eating and increased physical activity.
Review will cover both primary prevention and management of obesity, mainly in primary healthcare and indications for referral to secondary& tertiary Care.
In prevention approach, emphasis is on the importance of following healthy eating habits and following certain strategies such as the 5‑2‑1‑0 message in every day and the eat-well plate guidelines in prevention, in addition to providing practical advices for physical activity.
Review of different available treatment strategies will be touched with shedding light on how to approach & assess the readiness of patient to change in addition to the proper evaluation of obese patient. While pharmacotherapy is the most appealing to most patients, it is the least used strategy due to drug side effects. Bariatric surgery remains the most effective method in morbid obesity.