Study: Childhood Obesity Soaring in Arab World

Overweight children. AFP file photo
Overweight children. AFP file photo
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Study: Childhood Obesity Soaring in Arab World

Overweight children. AFP file photo
Overweight children. AFP file photo

A new international study has warned that childhood obesity has soared across the world and continues to do so in low- and middle-income countries, including the Arab world.

The study led by Imperial College London and the World Health Organization (WHO) said that obesity rates in children and adolescents have plateaued in higher income countries, such as the United States and northwestern Europe although obesity levels remain “unacceptably high.”

Combined, the number of obese five to 19 year olds rose more than tenfold globally, from 11 million in 1975 to 124 million in 2016, it said.

An additional 213 million were overweight in 2016 but fell below the threshold for obesity, the study added.

Lead author Professor Majid Ezzati, of Imperial’s School of Public Health, said: "These worrying trends reflect the impact of food marketing and policies across the globe, with healthy nutritious foods too expensive for poor families and communities. The trend predicts a generation of children and adolescents growing up obese and at greater risk of diseases, like diabetes. We need ways to make healthy, nutritious food more available at home and school, especially in poor families and communities, and regulations and taxes to protect children from unhealthy foods."

The authors said that if post-2000 trends continue, global levels of child and adolescent obesity will surpass those for moderately and severely underweight youth from the same age group by 2022.

In 2016, the obesity rate was highest in Polynesia and Micronesia in boys and girls, at 25.4 percent in girls and 22.4 percent in boys, followed by the high-income English-speaking region, which includes the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The areas of the world with the largest increase in the number of obese children and adolescents were East Asia, the high-income English-speaking region, and the Middle East and North Africa.

Among high-income countries, the US had the highest obesity rates for girls and boys.



Saudi Medical Team Separates Conjoined Twins in Groundbreaking 15-Hour Surgery

The procedure was carried out by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines. SPA
The procedure was carried out by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines. SPA
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Saudi Medical Team Separates Conjoined Twins in Groundbreaking 15-Hour Surgery

The procedure was carried out by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines. SPA
The procedure was carried out by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines. SPA

The medical and surgical team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program successfully separated on Wednesday Eritrean twins Asma and Someya, who were joined at the head, at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh.

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) Supervisor General and head of the medical team Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah said the complex procedure, which lasted more than 15 hours, was carried out in adherence to Saudi leadership directives by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines.

The team employed neuronavigational technology and surgical microscopy to ensure precise planning and uphold the highest safety standards.

He added that this operation marks the 64th separation performed under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has treated over 149 cases from 27 countries over the past 35 years.

The program continues to receive strong support from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Over the years, it has achieved outstanding medical successes, showcasing the advanced capabilities and professionalism of Saudi Arabia's healthcare sector and its medical teams.

Consultant pediatric neurosurgeon and head of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Dr. Moutasem Azzubi explained that the twins underwent a comprehensive evaluation, which revealed the fusion of skull bones, brain membranes, veins, and certain arteries.

The separation was conducted in stages, beginning with an initial surgical procedure followed by three interventional radiology procedures to block shared arteries and veins. The pediatric plastic surgery team inserted tissue expanders under the skin to stretch it over several months and allow sufficient skin coverage after the separation.

The twins' family expressed their sincere gratitude to the Saudi leadership for making this life-saving procedure possible and ensuring their children received the best medical care. They also commended the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts and extended thanks for the generous hospitality they received during their stay in Saudi Arabia.