Health

Confronting obesity in the Middle East: Cultural, social and policy challenges

November 01, 2016

Middle East

November 01, 2016

Middle East
Martin Koehring

Senior Manager for Sustainability, Climate Change and Natural Resources & Head of the World Ocean Initiative

Martin Koehring is senior manager for sustainability, climate change and natural resources at (part of The Economist Group). He leads Economist Impact's sustainability-related policy and thought leadership projects in the EMEA region. He is also the head of the, inspiring bold thinking, new partnerships and the most effective action to build a sustainable ocean economy.

He is a member of the Advisory Committee for the UN Environment Programme’s Global Environment Outlook for Business and is a faculty member in the Food & Sustainability Certificate Program provided by the European Institute for Innovation and Sustainability.

His previous roles at The Economist Group, where he has been since 2011, include managing editor, global health lead and Europe editor at The Economist Intelligence Unit.

He earned a bachelor of economic and social studies in international relations from Aberystwyth University and a master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations from the College of Europe.

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A combination of major lifestyle and dietary changes over the past few decades, harsh weather conditions that limit outdoor activities and a genetic predisposition has led to an obesity crisis in many parts of the Middle East.

This report is based on five in-depth interviews with senior obesity experts from the region, complemented by extensive desk research. The main findings of the research are as follows: 

  • The prevelance of obesity in the region is among the highest in the world. 
  • High levels of obesity in the region are the result of a complex combination of interconnected environmetal, cultural, and biological causes. 
  • Obesity is a mejor economic burden on countries in the region. 
  • A widespread public perception in the region is that obesity is a symptom of diabetes or hypertension, rather than a disease in itself. 

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