Multi-disciplinary experts on obesity and obesity surgery are set to discuss its various causes and its surgical and non-surgical management in Dubai next week.

The second Annual Gulf Obesity Surgery Society (GOSS2014) Meeting will be hosted by the Emirates Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Interest Group (EOMSIG) under the auspices of the Gulf Obesity Surgery Society (GOSS), from December 10 to 13 at the Raffles Hotel.

Dr M Jarallah, president of GOSS, said: “The meeting aims to unify the efforts of national societies from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE in combating obesity and metabolic disorders in the gulf region, by creating a single educational platform for health professionals and consolidating the national conferences into the annual GOSS meeting”

The meeting will also include the second annual meeting of EOMSIG, the sixth SKMC Cleveland Clinic Obesity Symposium, the third Kuwait Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Conference, and the second annual meeting for the Saudi Arabian Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

The conference will discuss the management of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, physiological changes that are part of the obesity disease and the changes that occur following bariatric surgery.

Dedicated sessions will discuss various techniques of bariatric and metabolic surgery and their relative advantages and disadvantages, and techniques to minimise the complications of bariatric surgery and what to do when surgery fails to achieve the weight loss target in some cases.

Allied healthcare sessions will address patient support in pre and post bariatric surgery care, and there will be a consensus meeting to lay down the guidelines on the practice of bariatric surgery in the region.

In addition to the scientific discussions, several workshops and master classes will be conducted on some of the latest surgical and endoscopic techniques including the popular sleeve gastrectomy, the emerging technique of mini-gastric bypass and POSE (a new endoscopic technique) as well as on the methodologies and value of patient support groups.

Live bariatric surgeries from international and local centres will give delegates a chance to watch expert surgeons perform surgeries and to interact with them in a very valuable learning experience.

Dr Faruq M Badiuddin , organising president of the conference, said: “Obesity is a disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach. This conference therefore brings together dieticians, physical therapists, psychologists, anaesthesiologists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, bariatricians, surgeons and university researchers in the field of obesity.”

Dr Fawaz Torab, secretary general of GOSS, said: “The meeting aims to create a platform where practitioners and researchers can network and exchange knowledge for possible research collaboration; and where the industry can showcase their latest products and services to a captive audience.

“The meeting has invited world-renowned International faculty and upcoming experts from the Middle East to facilitate sessions to broaden the knowledge and improve the skill sets of attendees. Moreover, the meeting has also encouraged young researchers to submit their research for inclusion in the scientific program and qualify for travel grant awards.” - TradeArabia News Service