obesity-congress-2016_scientifictracks-abstracts

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Volume 6, Issue 4(Suppl) J Obes Weight Loss Ther
ISSN: 2165-7904 JOWT, an open access journal
Page 43
Notes:
Obesity Congress 2016
August 08-10, 2016
conferenceseries.com
August 08-10, 2016 Toronto, Canada
6th World Congress on
Obesity
High prevalence of overweight and obesity in Asians and Arabs living in United Arab Emirates:
UAEDIAB study
Nabil Sulaiman
University of Sharjah, UAE
Background: Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide and represents a significant risk factor for non-communicable
diseases (NCD) including diabetes and heart diseases. The Prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing in both males and
females in countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) including the UAE. This paper describes obesity prevalence and related
NCD in expatriates living in UAE during 2013/2014.
Methods: The study is part of Large National UAE Diabetes and Lifestyle Study- a cross-sectional survey designed to investigate the
prevalence of diabetes and associated risk factors in Expatriates living in UAE for at least four. The study was conducted during 2013
and 2014 using innovative, cost effective, random, representative sample of residents in Dubai, Sharjah and Northern Emirates. In
summary a sample was drawn by the UAE National Bureau of Statistics based on actual data of expatriates visiting the preventive
medicine clinics and fitness centers for visa renewal the year before the survey. Medical check-up for visa renewal every 2-3 years is a
legal requirement in UAE. A systematic random sample of every 10th visitor was recruited for face-to-face interview, measurements of
weight, height, waist and hip circumference and blood pressure. A sample of blood was collected and sent to one reference laboratory
to test for blood glucose, cholesterols, lipids as well as insulin.
Results: A total of 2722 expatriates were recruited and has full set of data. Expatriates were mainly from South East Asia (70.7%),
non-local Arabs (25.9%) and (Eurpean/ Africans3.4%). The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 27 (±SE =5.383). Only 1% was
underweight. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 41.9% and 22.3% respectively. The prevalence of Obesity (BMI 30+)
was more in females (30.9%) than males (20.3%) (p<0001) The highest prevalence of obesity was amongst 51-60 years in both males
(32.7%) and females (53.3%) and in those doing moderate and vigorous physical activity in both males and females. Diabetes (FBS
≥7 mmol/L) is more common in obese females (22%) than obese males (16.6%), similarly high cholesterol (≥5 mmol/L) is more in
females (64.8%) than males (60.2). However hypertension (≥140/90 mm Hg) is more prevalent in obese males (37.8%) than obese
females (26.8%). Also triglycerides (≥1.7 mmol/L) are more in males (50.2%) than females (39.6%). Snoring and sleep apnea was
more in males (36.9%, 6.6%) than females (32.3%, 3.8%) respectively.
Conclusions: Overweight and Obesity is a major health problem in expatriates living in UAE, it is associated with diabetes,
hypertension, high lipids and cholesterols as well as snoring and sleep apnea. A longitudinal follow-up study with individual,
household and community-level information is needed to determine the trends in obesity and associated factors and to measure
impact of health interventions.
Biography
Nabil Sulaiman has completed his PhD from University of Dundee and his FRCP (Glasgow). He is the HOD of Family and Community Medicine and Director of Sharjah
University Clinical and Surgical Training Centre. He has published more than 40 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of several
journals.
Nabil Sulaiman, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2016, 6:4(Suppl)