Abstract
Beyond the suffering of the affected subjects, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity epidemics gripping the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are expected to seriously jeopardize these nations' economies and development due to productivity losses. Available data show that healthcare budgets in GCC nations are under tremendous pressure because of diabetes- and obesity-linked comorbidities. Furthermore, T2D, once an over-forties disease, risks becoming a whole-adult-life condition because of obesity-associated early-onset T2D and prediabetes. The incidence of T2D is set to worsen unless efficient actions are taken to fight obesity and prevent the conversion of prediabetes to T2D. There is a consensus that the concomitant increase in obesity rates drives T2D rates upward. Fighting obesity at all levels should, therefore, take center stage for the GCC nations. The battle against obesity and T2D is a long-term and complex one. Therefore, only through concerted efforts between several public and private actors, including health, economic, and urbanization agencies, food producers and retailers, schools, families, youth organizations, sports clubs, and voluntary organizations, can this battle be won. The present review tries to assess the current status of diabetes and obesity epidemics in the GCC context and take stock of some of the policies and initiatives that have been, or need to be, implemented to address their growing burden.
Highlights
Diabetes is a global public health burden
While one cannot exclude an increased genetic predisposition of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) populations to type 2 diabetes (T2D), it is recognized that T2D and prediabetes epidemics in the region are primarily attributed to the concomitant obesity epidemic. e prevalence of obesity in adults in most GCC countries is higher than 30% [45]
Despite the short follow-up period and given the cultural and ethnic similarities between the GCC populations, this study demonstrates that intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) to prevent T2D may work in GCC populations
Summary
In 2019, 463 million individuals (9.3%) had diabetes globally, and this number is expected to reach 700 million (10.9%) by 2045 [1]. Of significant concern is the fact that 1 in 2 people (232 million) with diabetes is undiagnosed [1], reducing the odds of preventing or at least delaying the diabetes’ comorbidities. Some 374 million individuals (7.5%) had prediabetes in 2019. Diabetes’ impact on health budgets is undeniable. In 2017, USA spent $31.7 billion and $43.4 billion on undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes, respectively [13]. With its numerous associated comorbidities, the global economic impact of obesity is roughly $2 trillion annually [14, 15]. E health and socioeconomic impacts of diabetes and obesity call for urgent actions to tackle these relentless epidemics With its numerous associated comorbidities, the global economic impact of obesity is roughly $2 trillion annually [14, 15]. e health and socioeconomic impacts of diabetes and obesity call for urgent actions to tackle these relentless epidemics
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