Doctors at a Doha endocrine conference have urged families, schools and healthcare providers to act as obesity and early signs of diabetes rise among children.
Doctors have warned that obesity is putting around 30% of children in Qatar at risk of type 2 diabetes, turning what medical specialists described as a serious warning sign into a call for action at a recent endocrine conference in Doha. The concern, highlighted in a working paper presented at the event, reflects a broader pattern seen in local research, which has found high levels of excess weight and central obesity among Qatari adolescents, alongside measurable signs of prediabetes in some young people.
The discussion took place at the second diabetes and endocrinology conference organised by Al Ahli Hospital, which brought together 360 specialists from Qatar and abroad at the Sheraton Doha. According to the hospital, participants presented 11 papers on the latest developments in diagnosing and treating diabetes, as well as new technologies used to monitor blood sugar and improve long-term disease management. The gathering was also framed as part of continuing medical education for doctors in both the public and private sectors.
Gamal Hammad, Al Ahli Hospital’s deputy chief executive and director of projects, said diabetes prevention depends on both families and healthcare providers, though he placed primary responsibility on the home. He urged parents to encourage exercise, healthier eating and a more active lifestyle, arguing that awareness campaigns and newer technology together can help reduce risk. Hammad also said the conference examined sensors and insulin pumps that can track glucose levels and flag changes before a severe episode develops.
Abdulazim Abdulwahab, the hospital’s medical director, said the meeting reflected the health sector’s wider responsibility to confront conditions that are becoming more common in the country. He said recent years have brought a shift in obesity care, with treatment now often beginning with medication before surgery is considered. He added that the hospital now performs about seven to eight bariatric procedures a month, and linked obesity to type 2 diabetes, sedentary habits, fast food and the ease of ordering unhealthy meals through delivery apps. He also said Qatar ranks second in the Gulf for obesity rates, after Kuwait.
Muhammad Al Rishi, head of endocrinology and diabetes at Al Ahli Hospital and chairman of the conference, said the hospital plans to open a dedicated insulin pump clinic soon, building on a limited service already in place. He said the conference covered diabetes in both children and adults, as well as obesity, surgical approaches and complications affecting the eyes, blood vessels, bones and limbs. Al Rishi said the department sees an average of about 1,500 patients a month, with diabetes cases making up roughly two-thirds of that total. He said the hospital wants medical progress to translate into better patient care, while Turki Al Ahbabi of Hamad Medical Corporation warned that three in 10 children under 14 are obese, a figure he said points to the need for closer cooperation between specialist centres and primary care, backed by stronger family and school involvement.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
