Global experts will discuss how best to step up the fight against the obesity pandemic and assess the socio-economic impact of obesity and its associated diseases at the upcoming ‘Global Crisis of Obesity’ summit in Dubai, UAE.

Hosted by The Economist Events, the event will be held at Madinat Jumeirah on November 2.

Chairperson of Dubai Healthcare City Authority Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will give the opening keynote address, highlighting the importance of youth engagement in the obesity crisis.

The summit will also bring together some of the most eminent international and regional decision-makers from different sectors including policy-makers and senior-level professionals from the healthcare, pharmaceutical, food and drink, and medical devices industries.

“This summit comes at an urgent and critical time. The disease is escalating in prevalence worldwide and is inflicting health and socio-economic burdens on peoples and governments across the globe,” said Kay Westmoreland, head of Middle East & Africa at The Economist Group.

“We will be exploring and highlighting the best strategies and technologies to prevent obesity with stakeholders from various industries. Some of the main questions we will address include the role of the private and public sectors in the prevention of obesity and its health effects.”

Speakers and panelists will discuss topics such as the social and economic costs of obesity, the role of the food and drink industry, the potential for Public Private Partnerships, and the latest technologies and innovative approaches to curb the obesity pandemic.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.9 billion people were overweight or obese in 2014. A recent study led by Imperial College London in partnership with the WHO predicts one-fifth of adults will be obese by 2025, and some projections even estimate one-third to be obese by 2034. The Mena region is no exception, with 26 million people classed as severely obese, making the disease a major public health concern.

The event is sponsored by innovation and research pioneers, Johnson & Johnson and Nestlé Health Science. – TradeArabia News Service