Abu dhabi: A UAE report launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, revealed far-reaching benefits of obesity intervention across health, the economy, society, and education, in line with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision. The report was launched in the presence of Dr. Maria Hanif Al Qassim, Assistant Undersecretary for Policies and Economic Studies in the ministry.
According to Emirates News Agency, Dr. Al Qassim stated that the report comes at an important time, highlighting the hidden effects of obesity on the economy, society, and human development, not only on health. She emphasized that the significance of the report lies in its reliance on evidence and data to measure the real impact of weight loss, contributing to data-based policymaking and enhancing cooperation between government agencies, the health sector, insurance companies, and employers. The UAE continues to establish health as a national priority within its development vision, noting that a healthy and productive society is key to supporting quality of life, innovation, and economic resilience.
The report titled 'Beneath the Surface: The Hidden Socioeconomic Impacts of Weight Loss', underscores a significant opportunity for the UAE to unlock health and economic value through earlier and more effective obesity intervention. These interventions could help more than 1.2 million adults overcome obesity, potentially contribute $51 billion to GDP by 2031, and save $1.5 billion in healthcare costs.
Fadi Fara, CEO of Whiteshield, noted that the report reveals, for the first time, the true scale of benefits from weight loss and obesity treatment in the UAE. Effective obesity treatment policies are not only good health policies but also sound economic policies. With recent advances in research and innovation, countries now have an unprecedented opportunity to address the economic and social burden of obesity with greater ambition and at greater speed than ever before.
Leena Aziz, Senior Director, Corporate and Government Affairs, Gulf, Lilly, stated that obesity is a complex, chronic disease impacting not only individual health but also workforce productivity, economic resilience, and long-term national development. The UAE has made important progress in prioritizing health as part of its national agenda, with a clear opportunity to build on this momentum by further integrating prevention, early intervention, and access to care.
The accelerated intervention could help more than 1.2 million adults in the UAE transition out of obesity by 2031, with prevalence potentially falling by 15 percentage points, unlocking up to $1.5 billion in cumulative healthcare savings, and adding $51 billion to GDP in 2031 alone. GDP growth could rise by an additional 1.5 percentage points above baseline projections, bringing the UAE's GDP to an estimated $790 billion by 2031. Worker productivity could increase by the equivalent of up to five additional working days per year per individual previously living with obesity, while annual individual income could rise by up to $772.
Accelerated obesity interventions could lead to an estimated 75,000 additional births by 2031, with 24,000 being Emirati. More than 17,000 additional individuals could join the workforce, including over 9,000 Emirati women, reinforcing the link between public health, workforce participation, and long-term demographic sustainability. The report also projects more than 2,000 additional bachelor's degree enrolments and a 1.4% reduction in university dropout rates under the accelerated intervention scenario.
The report segments obesity intervention into key themes, including health, economy, society, and education, supporting sustainable health and economic strategies based on data and enhancing the country's readiness for the future.