The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has noted that its dietetics programme has been successful in significant body mass index (BMI) reduction among the obese.
PHCC provides dietetics services through trained dietitians to tackle the rising rates of obesity in Qatar. The service was initiated to support overweight and obese adults reduce their BMI through a dietetic programme.
PHCC undertook a study to evaluate the effectiveness of PHCC’s dietetics services led by Dr Muhammad Tanveer Alam, consultant family physician at Airport Health Centre. The study which is published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found PHCC’s programme supports BMI reduction of up to 10% in overweight and obese subjects.
The study further reported that the median time for weight reduction was 3.2 years, with women showing earlier significant weight loss than men. Greater weight reduction was seen in those with chronic diseases and who had constant follow up visits in the dietetic clinic during the study period.
Dr Alam said: "The study results are encouraging and show significant improvement in the management of adult obesity with medical nutrition therapy through involvement and guidance in the community dietetic clinics."
"Given the effectiveness of PHCC’s dietetics programme, it should be more widely considered as an operative strategy to prevent expensive diabetic and cardiovascular events, mainly in high-risk patients,” added, Dr Shajitha Thekkeveettil, Department of Clinical Research, PHCC and a member of the research team.