Doha: Obesity experts from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will host a series of four live webinars in Arabic designed to help people lose weight and live healthy lifestyles.
The first one-hour session of the Tawazon programme will go live on November 28, at 4pm and will be hosted through Microsoft Teams. Each of the sessions will have a different focus:
• 28 November at 4pm: What is obesity?
• 5 December at 4pm: The importance of lifestyle changes
• 12 December at 4pm: What is mindful eating?
• 17 December at 4pm: Making smart choices every day
The webinars were developed by HMC obesity expert Professor Shahrad Taheri, Senior Consultant at HMC, and a Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). Each webinar will be conducted in Arabic and will include special appearances by a number of experts from the National Obesity Treatment Center (part of Qatar Metabolic Institute at HMC) including physicians, dietitians, and nurses.
“The webinars are based on extensive clinical experience and research in weight management,” said Professor Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, Director of the Qatar Metabolic Institute and Chief Quality Officer at HMC.
“People who have obesity, compared to those with a normal or healthy weight, are at increased risk for several serious diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. The aim of the series is to give the wider community an opportunity to start building a healthier life by providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. These are evidence-based strategies,” added Professor Abou-Samra.
Professor Abou-Samra said the timing of the new programme is important as we continue to battle COVID-19.
“While the vast majority of people who contract COVID-19 have mild or no symptoms, there is evidence to suggest that people who are obese are at a greater risk from complications of the virus,” he said.
Professor Taheri said that many people want to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle but do not know where to start and many also need psychological support for their journey.
“Over the past few months people have been staying at home – this means less physical activity and a greater chance of overeating. It also means higher levels of anxiety - many people overeat when they are worried or feel disconnected from others,” Professor Taheri said.
“Through the Tawazon programme, we want to give essential information in an approachable format and proven strategies to build a community and to enable people to share this journey to health. To get the maximum benefit from the webinars, it is best to attend all of them from the beginning. Come and join us to move towards a healthier future together,” added Professor Taheri.
To register for the Tawazon program, visit https://hamad.wufoo.com/forms/q1o4jkgo0k3f4yq/