National Guideline-driven Recommendations and Implementation Strategies for Weight Management and Adult Obesity Prevention

Introduction: Obesity is a major public health challenge and leading contributor to global morbidity and mortality, with prevalence rising sharply worldwide. It is traditionally defined by body mass index (BMI), a measure that inadequately reflects body composition, fat distribution, and related health impairments, leading to misclassification and suboptimal care. Recently, obesity has been redefined as a chronic disease characterized by excess adiposity that impairs health, emphasizing functional limitations and organ dysfunction. Obesity arises from a complex interplay of biological, behavioral, environmental, and societal factors, including diet, physical inactivity, sleep, genetics, and healthcare access. Visceral adiposity, ectopic fat deposition, and chronic inflammation contribute to major comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), liver disorders, and certain cancers. Additionally, obesity substantially impairs quality of life and is strongly associated with mental health challenges, stigma, and social inequities.Methods: The UAE is facing a growing obesity epidemic. In recent decades, the prevalence of adult obesity has risen markedly. According to its 2018 National Health Survey, 27.8% of respondents had a BMI ≥30 kg/m2. The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) led the development of the first national guidelines on adult weight management and obesity, assembling a multidisciplinary task force of experts from governmental and academic sectors, including public health, endocrinology, internal medicine, family medicine, behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and clinical nutrition. The guideline development process involved structured in-person and virtual meetings to define scope and priorities, followed by iterative reviews and refinements by national and international experts. The final consensusbased guidelines were endorsed by all task force members.Results: The task force developed comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations across several domains: assessment of adults with obesity; medical nutrition therapy; physical activity; psychological and behavioral interventions; pharmacological treatments; bariatric surgery; management of obesity in special populations; and strategies to enhance health literacy related to obesity care.Conclusion: The guidelines employed a public health approach that integrated actions across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of care. It also recognizes that maintaining weight loss requires sustainable and comprehensive lifestyle changes, constant support through counselling or support groups to reinforce healthy behaviors, and motivation to sustain progress.