By Amjad Mehmood
ISLAMABAD — A two-day international seminar on obesity management concluded at CDA Hospital, bringing together more than 160 healthcare professionals from across Pakistan for discussions on advanced surgical and medical treatments.
The event was organized on the directives of Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa and Member Administration Talat Mehmood Gondal, with the aim of enhancing clinical capacity in obesity care through international collaboration and practical learning.
Supervised by Prof. Dr. Naeem Taj, Executive Director of CDA Hospital, the seminar focused on modern bariatric and metabolic surgery, emerging pharmacological therapies, and multidisciplinary approaches to long-term obesity treatment.
Live Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery
One of the central features of the seminar was a live Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) procedure performed by Prof. Khaled Gawadat, President of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity. During the operation, he explained the surgical steps, patient eligibility criteria, and expected outcomes.
International faculty also included Prof. Antonio Torres from Spain, who shared expertise on the SADI-S surgical technique, and Dr. Imran from the United Arab Emirates, who discussed structured, evidence-based strategies for comprehensive obesity management.
Emphasis on surgical safety and medical therapy
The academic program, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem Taj, Dr. Syed Tanseer Asghar, and Dr. Sartaj Ali, featured expert lectures and interactive case discussions. Topics included patient selection protocols, prevention of post-operative complications, and advances in metabolic surgery.
Sessions on medical management highlighted obesity as a chronic disease requiring sustained care. Dr. Farhan Ali and Dr. Sarwar Malik outlined the role of anti-obesity medications alongside lifestyle modification and long-term monitoring.
Participants emphasized that successful obesity treatment depends on an integrated approach involving surgeons, physicians, nutritionists, and follow-up care teams.
CDA Hospital officials stated that the institution will continue to promote professional training and academic exchange to strengthen healthcare standards. Since October 2024, Prof. Dr. Naeem Taj has overseen regular medical education initiatives aimed at improving clinical services and patient care delivery.
