Obesity in the UAE: Utilizing the Set Point Theory for Health Promotion

Obesity has become a major problem in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is estimated that over 60% of
Emirati nationals are overweight and this figure is expected to rise. The number of overweight or obese
adults and children has continued to increase and is a trend that is not slowing down. Traditional dress
in the Middle East is a contributing factor of obesity due to the wearing of loose, flowing garments such
as the dish-dash or “abayas”. Excess weight gained goes relatively unnoticed as they are not wearing
close fitting garments such as jeans or shirts. Often when clothes become tight, it signals a warning to
control calorie intake but this may not occur if there are no limiting factors (CSHD, 2009).

The theory behind obesity is based on the complex interplay between genetics and environment.
Several studies have shown that body weight is maintained at a stable range, known as the "set-point,"
despite the variability in energy intake and expenditure. Additionally, it has been shown that the body is
more efficient protecting against weight loss during caloric deprivation compared to conditions of
weight gain with overfeeding, suggesting an adaptive role of protection during periods of low food
intake. Emerging evidence on bariatric surgery outcomes, particularly gastric bypass, suggests a novel
role of these surgical procedures in establishing a new set-point by alterations in body weight regulatory
physiology, therefore resulting in sustainable weight loss results. Continuing research is necessary to
elucidate the biological mechanisms responsible for this change, which may offer new options for the
global burden of obesity (Farias et al., 2011). Hence, it is necessary to provide a mechanism in which
interventions can modify the set-point in body weight regulatory physiology so that health promotion
techniques can be developed with such a physiologic mechanism in mind. This will allow for more
effective health promotion strategies that target the changes in the set point of the body and introduce
sustainable weight loss techniques among UAE residents.

References:

CSHD (2009). Obesity in the United Arab Emirates. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.weightlosssurgery.ae/obesity-UAE.htm

Farias M.M., Cuevas, A.M., and Rodriguez, F. (2011). Set-point theory and obesity. PubMed - NCBI .
[ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21117971.