Comment on: Bariatric surgery in the Middle East and North Africa: narrative review with focus on culture-specific considerations.

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity has increased at an alarming rate during the last 3 decades in the Middle East, and this appears to be more pronounced in women. Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are among the top countries worldwide in terms of obesity incidence. As an example, 30% of males in Kuwait and 55% of females over the age of 15 were classified as having obesity, making Kuwait the country with the highest prevalence of obesity in Arabic-speaking countries at that time [ [1] Badran M. Laher I. Obesity in Arabic-speaking countries. J Obes. 2011; 2011: 686430 Crossref PubMed Scopus (96) Google Scholar ]. The prevalence of obesity is partly due to rapid infrastructural changes. The Arabian Gulf has experienced significant growth from natural resources, and this has subsequently impacted rapid urbanization, technical advancements, and improved living conditions [ [2] Alnohair S. Obesity in gulf countries. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2014; 8: 79-83 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar ]. Currently, bariatric surgery is considered the most effective treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with severe obesity. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is the most common operation worldwide, followed by Roux en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), with significant geographic variation. Bariatric surgery in the Middle East and North Africa: narrative review with focus on culture-specific considerationsSurgery for Obesity and Related DiseasesVol. 17Issue 11PreviewThere is an increasing volume of bariatric surgeries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), but the context of bariatric surgery in the region is not fully understood. Incorporating culture-specific considerations in the provision of care to patients who undergo bariatric surgery may help to optimize outcomes after surgery. We conducted a narrative review of published research studies on bariatric surgery in the MENA region, highlighting cultural and contextual aspects relevant to the care of bariatric surgery patients who undergo surgery in this geographic area. Full-Text PDF Open Access