The Family Medicine Conference set to take place from October 14 to 16 at the Abu Dhabi Medical Congress (ADMC) in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, will focus on adolescents and the risk of acquiring diabetes.

Young adolescents are at an increased risk of acquiring Type 2 diabetes conditions in adulthood, UAE experts have warned. Diabetes complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney diseases and stroke are some of the illnesses brought on by unhealthy diet and lack of exercise in adolescent years.  

The US Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services suggest that all adolescents from ages 11 to 21 should have an annual routine health visit. Parents in the UAE are being advised to follow these recommendations.

Dr Nayara Sarhan, consultant family physician and assistant professor at the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain will speak about ‘Handling Adolescents in Primary Care’ at the event.

She said that it is essential for parents to take their adolescent children for regular health checkups in order to monitor any risks, either physically or psychologically, that could potentially lead to conditions such as Diabetes in their future.

“To make it more convenient for parents and healthcare providers, school students should be screened at least once in each adolescent period which includes early adolescents (aged 10-13 years), middle (aged 14-17 years), and in late adolescents (aged 17-19 years),” said Dr Sarhan.

Obesity is increasing among young people in both low- and high-income countries, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Adequate nutrition and healthy eating and physical exercise habits at this age are foundations for good health in adulthood.

Dr Yasser Nakhlawi, chair of the Pediatrics Institute, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, speaker at the upcoming conference, said: “Adolescents also develop eating disorders that affect their growth, development and sometimes even lead to morbidity.”

“Statistics state that approximately 1 per cent of girls between the ages 12 to 18 are anorexic, 1-3 per cent of girls are bulimic, and approximately 20 per cent are engaged in less severe unhealthy dieting.”

“From a nutritional perspective, three quarters of adolescents do not eat recommended portion sizes. Another observation with regards to adolescent’s physical activity was that the level dropped dramatically between children from grades nine to twelve.”

Organised by Informa Life Sciences Exhibition, the Abu Dhabi Medical Congress is the region’s key healthcare event bringing together leading international healthcare companies to showcase their latest products and services within the emergency, primary healthcare, patient safety, rehabilitation, and dentistry sectors, as well as being a platform for scientific exchange via the accompanying multi-track conference programme dedicated to these healthcare sectors.

ADMC has expanded from 7,000 sq m in 2011 to more than 9,000 sq m this year, with more than 110 exhibitors from 25 different countries, 12 CME-accredited conferences, and around 4,000 visitors. – TradeArabia News Service