Obesity-related health conditions, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease, are leading causes of premature preventable death and incur billions of dollars in costs annually worldwide. According to WHO (2014), almost two-thirds (67.3%) of Lebanese individuals are affected by excess weight. Unfortunately, clinicians often overlook weight issues during visits, possibly due to time constraints, insufficient training, or other barriers. Studies have revealed high rates of overweight and obesity among both NDU students (40% in a convenient sample, Jaalouk et al., 2019) and staff (64% in a convenient sample, Ghadieh et al., 2018). Consequently, NDU has introduced an obesity center to provide accessible support and resources in addressing this pressing health concern.
| Goal |
Task/Intervention |
Timeline |
| Clinical Activity |
Multidisciplinary Approach: Involving experts from various fields (medicine, nutrition, psychology, exercise science, and public health) |
Fall 2023 |
| Education |
Awareness/conferences/workshops inside and outside NDU
Training Opportunities |
Fall 2023 - Spring 2024 |
| Research |
Data collection
Generating funds |
Fall 2023 - Spring 2024 |
| Policy Advocacy |
Advocating for healthier food options and promoting physical activity in schools/universities and communities |
Spring 2024 |
| Collaboration |
Collaborate with other healthcare institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and researchers |
Fall 2023 - Spring 2024 |
| Evaluation and Continuous Improvement |
Self-assessment
Patient satisfaction surveys |
Spring 2024 |