THIRTEEN complex surgeries, including bariatric and upper gastrointestinal operations, were conducted by experts during a five-day workshop hosted by Government Hospitals.
The first five-day programme on obesity and upper gastrointestinal surgery was presented by consultant laparoscopic and advanced obesity surgeon and Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI) fellow Professor Muhammad Mirza.
During the workshop, 16 patients were evaluated at the outpatient surgery clinic at Salmaniya Medical Complex, while 13 complex surgical procedures were successfully performed, as well as a number of delicate reconstructive procedures.
“Clinical results have shown remarkable success, with all patients who underwent surgical interventions during 2025 recovering, reflecting the competence of the medical staff and the integration of the level of care provided,” said a statement by Government Hospitals yesterday.
“This workshop is a big step for Government Hospitals to boost specialised healthcare services by bringing in top international medical talent and giving local medical staff advanced training,” it added.
A body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above is generally considered to indicate obesity. Globally, 800 million people are obese and the number is expected to reach one billion by 2030, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics.
According to official data, nearly one-third of Bahraini teenagers are overweight or obese.
Health experts attribute this to the consumption of foods high in sodium, sugar and saturated fats – factors directly linked to obesity.
Another data by the WHO on Bahrain showed there was a significant increase in the prevalence of overweight adults in Bahrain, from 57.4 per cent recorded in 2000 to 65.8pc in 2016.
Also, the prevalence of overweight children and adolescents aged 5-19 had risen from 27.9pc in 2000 to 35.3pc in 2016.
In Bahrain, obesity has been recognised as a chronic disease, with a series of national-level plans and initiatives in place to tackle the condition.
The kingdom launched a comprehensive National Action Plan for Prevention and Management of Overweight and Obesity in 2005, following which it established the first public nutrition clinic in Muharraq, a move that paved the way for other public and private nutrition clinics.
In 2022, Bahrain became the first Gulf nation to be listed by WHO, alongside 25 other countries, to accelerate progress towards reducing obesity.
The GDN reported earlier this year that MPs were pushing restaurants and cafés in Bahrain to mandatorily display calorie counts on menus.
Although the rule was initially approved in 2018 and set for implementation on January 1, 2019 it has yet to be enforced due to the absence of a standardised tool or methodology for calculating calorie content.
Key requirements for high salt food labelling regulation in Saudi effective from July 1, 2025
The delay was further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, during which dine-in services were heavily restricted.
Meanwhile, starting this month, Saudi Arabia successfully rolled out new regulations that require all restaurants and cafés to display clear nutritional information on their menus.
Key requirements for high salt food labelling regulation in Saudi effective from July 1, 2025
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority mandates that under new regulations a ‘saltshaker’ label is placed next to meals high in sodium as a clear guide, disclosing the caffeine content of beverages, and indicating the estimated time required to burn off the calories from a meal. These requirements apply to all menus, whether physical or online, and extend to online food ordering platforms.
Caffeine content disclosure on all menus for consumers in Saudi
This initiative aims to promote transparency and empower consumers to make healthier choices amid rising rates of hypertension and obesity.
An infographic explains the calories-breakdown through physical activity
The WHO advises adults to reduce sodium intake to no more than five grams of salt per day (equivalent to one teaspoon). For caffeine, the recommendation is not to exceed 400mg per day for adults and 200mg for pregnant women.
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