Doha,– 01 March, 2025: With obesity rates rising worldwide, the 4th Qatar International Metabolic and Bariatric Summit (4th QIMBS 2025), hosted by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), addressed the pressing global health challenge.
The summit, held on 27 to 28 February 2025, at the JW Marriott Marquis in Doha, convened leading global and local experts, clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals to explore cutting-edge solutions for obesity management and its associated complications.
Chaired by Dr. Moataz Bashah, Director of the National Bariatric Center at HMC said the summit served as a crucial prelude to the World Obesity Day 2025 Global Campaign. This year's program spotlighted innovations in bariatric surgery, medical weight management, diet and lifestyle, and addressed the medical and surgical management of obesity in Children and Adolescents, featuring a dedicated panel discussion with leading experts.
Dr. Moataz Bashah, Conference Chair said: "The 4th QIMBS 2025 was not just a conference; it was a call to action. We worked together to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and implement effective strategies to address the growing obesity challenge, both locally and globally. This summit showcased the latest advancements and provided a platform for meaningful dialogue to drive real change."
Obesity is a significant global health crisis, linked to a range of serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, and premature death. It also placed a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems worldwide.
In Qatar, according to the recent Stepwise Report 2023 published by the Ministry of Public Health, over 70% of the population was affected by obesity. The 4th QIMBS 2025 underscored the importance of collaborative global efforts to combat this epidemic and improve the health and well-being of individuals affected by obesity.
A distinguished international faculty joined the Summit to share their expertise, including:
- Professor Michel Gagner, Chief, Department of Surgery, Westmount Square Surgical Center, Canada.
- Nathalie Farpour-Lambert, Head of the Global Obesity Program, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.
- Osama Hamdy, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Medical Director, Obesity Clinical Program, Joslin Diabetes Center, USA.
- Professor Billy Helmuth, Director of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Ventura Advanced Surgical Associates, USA.
- Professor Antonio J. Torres, Professor of Surgery, Complutense University of Madrid; Chief of the General and Digestive Surgery Service, Clínico San Carlos Hospital, Spain.
They were joined by a prominent faculty of local speakers and moderators from Qatar's leading institutions, including the National Bariatric Center and National Obesity Treatment Center from the Qatar Metabolic Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation.
The summit delved into a wide range of topics including: advances in bariatric surgery, including magnetic bipartition, robotic surgery, and minimally invasive procedures; innovative surgical techniques and medical management of the treatment of obesity and the role medication and lifestyle changes in weight management.
Prof. Abdul Badi Abou Samra, Co-Chair of the National Diabetes Committee and a member of the Qatar Metabolic Institute at HMC said: "Obesity is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences. The QMI was committed to supporting initiatives like the 4th QIMBS 2025 that brought together world-renowned experts to share best practices and advance our understanding of obesity prevention and treatment."
