A recent survey by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) revealed that 79.8 per cent of women in Egypt are overweight and 46.6 per cent obese.

Another study recently conducted by the National Nutrition Centre of Egypt found that 48.5 per cent of Egyptian women and 16.7 per cent of Egyptians over 20 are obese. As many as 35 per cent of the population has a BMI over 30, and are therefore considered obese. The various surveys conducted in Egypt underline the main nutritional problem and raise the growing trend of obesity among adults (Source FAO).

The International Obesity Task Force, Egypt, has said that more than 25 per cent of children aged 4 years are overweight.

Not only obesity, but also diabetes is a growing concern in Egypt. According to the Diabetes Atlas survey, the incidence of diabetes in Egypt last year was 10.4 per cent.

Against this backdrop, obesity and diabetes were the main focus at the 13th Congress of the Egyptian Society of Endocrinology and Obesity and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists held in Alexandria, Egypt recently.

With the congress theme of 'Update in diagnosis and treatment of obesity, common endocrine problems and Diabetes Mellitus', the main topics of discussion were: Update on pharmacologic treatment of obesity, Role of exercise in obesity prevention and treatment, trans-cultural approach to healthy eating, Nutrition and diabetes, and Nutrition and obesity.

“Obesity is a worldwide chronic disease affecting over 300 million adults. Excess body fat is the largest nutritionally related problem in the world, excess intake of food (carbohydrate, protein and fat) can lead to obesity or at least the maintenance of an overweight body,” stated guest speaker Dr Wafaa Ayesh, director of Clinical Nutrition Department - Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

“To a reasonable extent, body weight regulation depends on the balance between energy intake and energy expenditure, high-fat diets are more energy dense than high-carbohydrate diets, and the former favor hyperphagia (increased food intake). With high-fat diets, which are energy dense, more calories are passively ingested than with high-carbohydrate foods,” Dr Ayesh said.

“To prevent obesity a complete change of lifestyle is necessary where one strives to achieve a balanced diet and where moderation and healthy food choices are the keys to good health,” Dr Ayesh stressed.

The ‘Nutritious and Delicious’ campaign by Tefal targeted journalists and health professionals in Egypt on the dangers of obesity leading to diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Nathalie Haddad, product manager, Groupe SEB MEA, Indian Sub Continent, French Overseas Territories presented Tefal’s new range of products: Nutricook, Actifry and Vitacuisine. These unique cooking solutions combine nutritional performance and culinary pleasure. All three products are based on advanced and innovative technologies offering high preservation of nutritional quality and maximum flavour of all foods.

Speaking on behalf of Tefal, Haddad said, “Among the products which we showcased at the event included Nutricook, a pressure cooker with four exclusive cooking programmes that offer optimum cooking for each food group retaining vitamins in food as well as the original colour and texture, making it palatable and healthy.”

She added that Nutricook is the only pressure cooker in the world with four exclusive programmes for meat, vegetables, starchy food, and fish which is being launched in the Middle East simultaneous with the launch in France.

In addition, the popular Tefal product 'Actifry', was presented at the event along with 'Vitacuisine' a versatile steamer. Tefal Actifry, has already sold more than a million units worldwide after its launch last year. This revolutionary fryer can cook one kilo of French fries with only one spoonful of oil, using an innovative technology, she added.

Haddad concluded that Tefal, the French inventor of non-stick pots and pans and manufacturer of ingenious small household appliances invests in R&D to come up with innovations in household products that people use every day. 'Nutritious and Delicious', health awareness campaign has been endorsed by the medical body at large,” she added.-TradeArabia News Service