Alarming rise in childhood obesity troubling: Doctors

A war which has been damaging populations and that needs to be addressed by way of taking an earnest public-private partnership (PPP) stance on the environments society operates in, is obesity.

Despite having the “World Obesity Day” every March 4 since 12 years back, the problem remains unabated, based on the 2022 Global Obesity Observatory, the most recent collated data from 200 nations. Meanwhile, as according to University of Catania (Sicily, Italy) Internal Medicine Professor Riccardo Polosa, “currently around 3.5 billion worldwide are overweight and obese,” NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah Endocrinology consultant Dr. Kishan Delampady, who defined obesity as “not simply about overeating or the lack of willpower,” said that what “worries” him “most, and should worry all of us, is what we are seeing in children.”

“The alarming rise in childhood obesity, in high-income countries is particularly troubling,” continued Delampady.

Dubai Prime Hospital Endocrinology consultant Dr. Anil Kumar Narayaswamy said: “Obesity is now classified as a chronic disease, not a lifestyle condition.”

They all said the multifactorial causes are genetic, physical, psychological, emotional, social, and hormonal factors.

Diabetologist Narayaswamy added: “The more pressing issue is increasing obesity rates amongst younger age groups now, adolescents and young adults.”

From Delampady: “Childhood obesity has become the foundational driver of the worldwide obesity epidemic, setting the stage for lifelong metabolic dysfunction, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and related burdens.”

The three were interviewed alongside Novo Nordisk UAE general manager Dr. Cecilia Radu because even as local to international short-term to sustained educational awareness and programmes have been implemented in the decade past, island-states and World Bank-categorised wealthy countries have remained, in the Global Obesity Observatory, among the Top 20 with the most number of men and women stricken with obesity. Ranked first, third and ninth are Samoa, 75.92%; Nauru, 71.06%; and French Polynesia, 49%. Ranked 16th, 17th, and 20th are Kuwait, 44.43%; Qatar, 44%; and Saudi Arabia, 42.45%. The UAE which used to be among the Top 20 slid down to 48th at 29.02%.

On the global prevalence percentage rate among boys and girls, the UAE is among the Top 20 and among the 13 wealthy countries at 17th, 22.36%.

With the scientifically-based data collection, is the public to blame, especially so that the once lifestyle condition-turned-life-long disease has become a “global health emergency,” according to Delampady, asked of his take on the 2026 theme of “Eight Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity.”

Delampady, Polosa and Narayanswamy, factored in both the wealthy and island-countries the avalanche of convenient aggressively-marketed processed food and 24/7 food delivery systems versus home-cooked nutritious meals, and inactive lifestyle and excessive screen time rooted in childhood, among the causes of the increasing numbers.

“In many Asian populations, traditional and modern diets remain disproportionately high in refined carbohydrates while falling short on adequate high-quality protein from diverse sources that impairs satisfaction, leading to compensatory overeating and higher total calorie intake, as protein is the most filling micronutrient,” added Narayanswamy.

Polosa said: “In many wealthy countries, obesity is also concentrating in lower-income groups, where stress, time scarcity, food insecurity, and limited access to safe activity spaces are common. Choose water or diet alternatives over sugary drinks, and increasing protein and fibre over processed food.”

“Obesity management must move beyond blame and toward support. Structured clinical services matter. We begin with detailed metabolic evaluation and counselling,” said Delampady.

The Novo Nordisk PPP initiatives support the specialists’ suggestions of urban planning, accessible medical support, and school health programmes while the Danish multi-national drug company “actively fight” the epidemic “through a combination of pharmacological innovation, and high volume manufacturing.”

With the UNICEF, according to Radu, is “Cities for Better Health” in “over 50 cities globally designed to foster healthier urban environments and improving access to nutritious food and physical activity, and advocacy policy that protect children’s food environments and limit marketing of unhealthy foods.”

In the UAE is the NovoCare guidance and treatment and “Champion a Lighter You” awareness platform.