Muscat – The National Obesity Awareness Week will begin on April 9, aiming to strengthen partnerships between the public and private sectors and expand services for obesity care across the sultanate.

The initiative focuses on improving access to modern treatments, developing patient support programmes and introducing specialised cardiometabolic clinics to enhance the management of obesity and related conditions.

The week-long programme has been organised by Oman Diabetes Association in collaboration with the National Diabetes and Endocrine Centre. It will feature a series of awareness activities designed to highlight the growing health challenge posed by obesity.

Among the key events is a large community awareness gathering at Qurum Natural Park, organised in partnership with several public and private health institutions and in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth.

The programme will include a panel discussion examining the challenges of obesity in Oman, along with an information and awareness exhibition involving health sector partners.

A national virtual dialogue will also be held to discuss the risks obesity poses to individuals and society. In addition, specialised workshops will be organised for healthcare professionals, while pharmacists will participate in a forum on the latest therapeutic options. Mobile campaigns will also be conducted to promote early screening and detection of obesity and related chronic diseases.

According to data from the 2025 national health survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, 32.1% of the population in Oman is overweight, while 32.7% is classified as obese –  bringing the combined rate to 64.8%.

The figures also reveal a gender gap, with obesity affecting 39.3% women compared to 26.4% men.

Health experts warn that obesity is associated with more than 195 diseases and is a major risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Studies show that losing just 1kg of body weight can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 16%, while a 5% reduction in body weight can have a measurable clinical impact.

Globally, more than 1bn people are estimated to be living with obesity, with prevalence having doubled since 1990 – highlighting the scale of one of the most pressing public health challenges today.

Obesity is linked to around 60% of new diabetes cases and 18% of heart disease, and is associated with 8% and 11% of cancer and dementia cases respectively. It is also estimated to reduce life expectancy by about 2.7 years.