Regular exercise is essential to maintain the ideal weight of an individual and ward off extra fat. This was stressed at the two-day Obesity and Osteoporosis Symposium at King Fahad Coastal City here which concluded on Thursday. The symposium sponsored by the Saudi Commission for Medical Specializations and inaugurated by Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Health Affairs Department, targeted all segments of society to make them aware of the increasing danger of obesity and osteoporosis. Themes discussed during the symposium included: definition of osteoporosis, methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention, and the importance of exercise and good food. “We discussed the problem of obesity in children and adults, the use of drugs in the treatment, the reasons for the increase in weight and its impact on the bones,” said Abdulrahman Al-Sahafi, public relations manager at Jeddah Health Affairs Department. He added, “We want all segments of society to know the important role that exercise plays in maintaining ideal body weight as well as the importance of nutrition in the life of the individual and its impact on people's health.” Badawood mentioned the importance of such symposiums in developing society's awareness of several silent diseases. “There is great need for scientific meetings that discuss important aspects of human life and the attention that officials of the Ministry of Health give to these seminars is evidence of how important they are to increasing health awareness,” said Badawood. “Our country has achieved a prominent place on the medical map because of a series of comprehensive health and development plans, large medical studies, planning and follow-up, and the continuous support of the government,” he added. Despite the great strides that have been made in the field of medicine, he said, the Kingdom still needs to develop new health awareness campaigns and medical seminars.
