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Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the Department of Health Sciences at the College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University, have launched a new weight management programme to reduce the incidence of obesity in Qatar. |
The programme, called Smart Weight, is for people who need to lose weight and would benefit from professional support and advice. The programme is open to adults residing in Qatar.
The six-month programme, funded by Qatar’s Academic Health System partnership, is designed and led by a team of highly qualified healthcare professionals from Hamad Medical Corporation Dietetics and Nutrition Department, along with faculty from the human nutrition programme and student volunteers at Qatar University.
The programme targets people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30. As part of their community service, student volunteers from Qatar University will be assisting the dietitians at HMC with participant registration as well as body measurements. In addition, faculty from the human nutrition programme will collaborate by organising workshops to the dietitians in the project.
Medical Director for Hamad General Hospital, Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani, said the programme, other than weight loss, also aims to highlight lifestyle changes to reduce the health risks with being obese.
“If you are carrying too much weight, you could be at risk of serious health issues, such as diabetes or heart problems. The Smart Weight programme highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and a regular exercise regimen as part of an overall eating plan designed to help participants lose weight,” said Dr al-Maslamani.
“This can seem daunting at first but we will provide support to our participants every step of the way. The aim is, with the right support and advice, committed participants will be able to lose at least 10% of their weight over 6 months,” al-Maslamani said.
Director for Corporate Dietetics and Nutrition, Reem al-Saadi said that the programme is open to adults residing in Qatar.
“We are looking for participants from all nationalities aged between 18 and 65. Places are limited to 500 participants to provide the right level of support to each person, but we hope to do another six-month programme in the future where we can take more participants,” said al-Saadi.
Al-Saadi added that the programme is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for anyone who has previously had weight loss surgery.
HMC Project Manager for Smart Weight, Dr Hatem El Shoubaki, said that interested people can visit the registration desk in the main lobby at Hamad General Hospital. Health information and further details about the Smart Weight programme can be found on their website: http://smartweight.hamad.qa.
“This programme is free and registration is open to anyone who meets the criteria ,” said Dr El Shoubaki.
