Dubai: More than 40 per cent of children in the UAE are obese and nearly 10 per cent are malnourished, health experts say.
Over- or under-nutrition not only affects the physical health of children but nutritional deficiencies impair their mental growth as well, pointed out Dr Mohammad Miqdady, Consultant and head of Paediatric Gastrenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) speaking to Gulf News at the Third International Paediatric Gastroenterology Congress being held in Dubai from May 27-29.
“Did you know that many obese children are actually malnourished because they eat junk food that deprives them of proper nutrition, resulting in severe iron, calcium and zinc deficiencies, leading to other complications? Parents need to be educated about proper nourishment and we have come up with a book on nutrition that will be provided to parents at a workshop being organised on the third day of the conference,” Dr Miqdady added.
The three-day conference which was inaugurated by Benjamin Franklin, SKMC CEO, has over 500 paediatric GI specialists from 25 countries around the global presenting papers, sharing and updating knowledge on paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition.
The conference seeks to cover all issues related to gastrointestinal disorders such as the H Pilori bacteria infestation in children, nutrition issues related to malnourishment and over-nourishment, GI tract-related disorders such as acid reflux, colic disease, constipation, chronic inflammation of the intestine and liver disorders that are commonly found among children such as liver failure and liver transplants, Dr Miqdady said.
Many liver diseases are genetically inherited and currently there are about 32 children in SKMC with transplanted livers, which draws attention to the issue of paediatric liver disease and management.
Dr Amer Azaz, consultant paediatric specialist in gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition said: “The aim of such a congress is to provide a platform and venue for local and regional doctors to be updated on paediatric hepatology, gastroenterology and nutrition and using new acquired data in updating clinical services in the region.”
Recounting the outcomes of the congress, Dr Miqdady said: “We have already produced a booklet for parents on nutrition which will be distributed during a parental workshop on the concluding day of the congress. Besides that we have initiated collaboration with the American, British, Latin American and Arab gastroenterology societies to facilitate sharing and exchange and collaboration of research work.”
