In Egypt, obesity isn’t just a personal health issue—it’s a significant societal burden affecting both health and the economy. It’s a major risk factor for serious diseases, including heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. This emphasizes the urgent need for effective strategies to tackle obesity and its wide-ranging impacts on the population. This groundbreaking study conducted by Syreon Middle East is the first to comprehensively evaluate the burden of obesity in Egypt, providing critical insight into its extensive impacts on public health and the economy.
In 2020, around 115,000 deaths in Egypt were attributed to obesity, accounting for 19.08% of the total estimated deaths that year. Additionally, the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) due to obesity-related conditions may have reached 4 million in 2020, indicating a substantial reduction in both the quality and quantity of life. The economic burden is substantial, with an estimated annual cost of 62 billion Egyptian pounds spent on treating obesity-related diseases in adults.
Obesity is a significant contributor to various severe health conditions, increasing the risk of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and fatty liver disease. The prevalence of obesity among adults in Egypt is alarming, with about 39.8% of the adult population affected, according to the “100 million health” survey conducted in 2019. The survey showed that obesity is more common in females (49.5%) than in males (29.5%), likely due to cultural factors limiting physical activity among women.
The economic impact of obesity is vast. For instance, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, both strongly linked to obesity, account for a significant portion of healthcare costs. The expense of treating these conditions, along with others like hypertension, osteoarthritis, and various cancers, places a heavy financial burden on the healthcare system.
Addressing the obesity epidemic requires multi-faceted approaches, including public health interventions, policy changes, and community-based programs. Examples of effective strategies from other countries, such as incentivizing healthy foods, implementing portion size restrictions, and promoting physical activity, could be adapted to the Egyptian context. Additionally, the World Health Organization’s regional office has proposed policy priorities for preventing obesity and diabetes in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which, if implemented, could significantly reduce the obesity burden in Egypt.
In conclusion, reducing obesity through targeted interventions and policies could dramatically improve health outcomes, reduce mortality rates, and decrease the economic burden on the healthcare system. More research and evaluation of potential interventions are needed to develop effective strategies for combating obesity in Egypt.