Source: Hamad Medical Corporation <\/p>\n\n
Dr. Monica Scaroulis, Director of the National Center for Obesity Treatment at Hamad Medical Corporation, confirmed that an individual needs 2,500 calories (2,000 calories for females) to maintain a healthy body weight, noting that the average individual weight in Qatar has risen from 70 kg to 85 kg. She pointed out that the body needs less food than many people think, as it stores any excess beyond its needs as fat. <\/p>\n\n
The secret to reaching a healthy weight for anyone lies in changing one\u2019s lifestyle for the better and maintaining it, Dr. Monica Scaroulis confirmed. She added: “The foods a person chooses have an important and direct impact on their health. Qatar and other developing countries suffer from an abundance of calorie-dense foods, and many people with obesity often find it difficult to strike a balance between the energy their bodies need and the amount of energy they obtain from food on a daily basis.”<\/p>\n\n
The National Center for Obesity Treatment, which opened around six months ago, focuses on educating patients and helping them achieve a balance between the calories they consume and their level of physical activity, in addition to offering and implementing a comprehensive programme to supervise weight loss for people with severe obesity, especially those at risk of obesity-related diseases. Since its opening, the Center has treated thousands of referred patients from various medical centres whose BMI exceeds 30. <\/p>\n\n
Dr. Monica Scaroulis adds: “While it is true that genetic factors play an important role in obesity, poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity are among the causes of obesity. There is no doubt that food labels and the nutritional leaflets attached to foods are part of the problem, especially as they are often vague and contradictory. There is also an abundance of pre-packaged, calorie-rich foods, making it difficult for the average consumer to know the true calorie content of these foods, as the labels indicate calories in ‘kilocalories or kilojoules per 100 grams’.”<\/p>\n\n
Dr. Monica Scaroulis draws attention to the fact that among the factors that increase the likelihood of obesity are the availability of discounted foods and the variety of fast food meals. Meal portions have also become far larger than normal or commonly recognised sizes, making it difficult to estimate how much food a person needs. Moreover, the excessive portion sizes served in restaurants reduce a person\u2019s ability to determine the type and amount of food they need, and as a result, people often eat more than they should. <\/p>\n\n
Dr. Monica Scaroulis adds: “Unfortunately, we have shifted from people who eat to live to people who live to eat. Most people have lost the connection between the brain and the body that makes us feel hungry when we are hungry and feel full when we have met our food needs. As part of the care programme provided to patients with obesity, at the National Center for Obesity Treatment we help these patients regain the ability to clearly distinguish between hunger and fullness, and we educate them about their calorie needs, as this is one of the necessary steps towards losing weight to a healthy level and maintaining it.”<\/p>\n\n
Dr. Monica Scaroulis cited some standard examples of the body\u2019s daily calorie needs, saying that a 40-year-old individual who weighs 70 kg and is 172 cm tall needs 2,400 calories per day to maintain their weight within healthy limits. However, caution is needed, as a single ready-made meal served by restaurants may contain a person\u2019s entire daily calorie requirement. <\/p>\n\n
If a person consumes foods that exceed the recommended calorie limit by 350 calories per day, their weight will increase to 85 kg within five years. She noted that this can happen easily if a person becomes accustomed to having a sugar-sweetened drink or a piece of dessert (cake) every day.<\/p>\n\n
It is worth noting that the State of Qatar has one of the highest prevalence rates of metabolic diseases and disorders in the region, which underscores the importance of providing healthcare that helps reduce diseases associated with excess weight. The National Center for Obesity Treatment treats referred patients whose BMI exceeds 30, and many people are also able to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to maintain their weight within healthy limits on their own. <\/p>\n\n
Dr. Monica Scaroulis stressed the need to combat obesity by monitoring the number of calories in foods and beverages. While monitoring and follow-up may seem tiring at first, once a person becomes accustomed to it, they will have already covered half the road towards overcoming obesity. <\/p>\n\n
The National Center for Obesity Treatment is located in Building 311 in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City. The Center includes an elite group of medical and nursing staff, including a multidisciplinary team comprising physicians specialised in obesity treatment and weight loss, endocrinologists, clinical dietitians, and physiotherapists. These teams provide treatment plans tailored to each patient\u2019s condition. <\/p>\n\n