One in four Kuwaitis now living with diabetes

Dubai: One in every four Kuwaitis is now living with diabetes, while nearly half of the country’s adult population is obese, health officials warned at a major medical conference of Kuwaiti doctors and researchers in the United Kingdom.

The alarming statistics were presented at the sixth annual meeting of the Medical Group for Kuwaitis Studying in the UK (Al Rayah List), which gathered doctors, consultants, and researchers across multiple disciplines from endocrinology to orthopedics, dentistry, pharmacy, and physiotherapy.

The event sought to share the latest research and strengthen knowledge exchange between Kuwaiti medical students abroad and the national health sector at home.

Endocrinology consultant Dr Asrar Al Sayed Hashem described the figures as “deeply concerning,” noting that obesity affects 43.7 percent of Kuwaiti adults, while childhood obesity is fueling early-onset diabetes and related complications.

Even more alarming, she said, is the state of children’s health: “Half of Kuwait’s children are either obese or overweight, setting them on an early path toward diabetes complications.”

Other speakers highlighted Kuwait’s medical progress in fields such as orthopaedic surgery, dentistry, pharmacy, and physiotherapy.

Dr Abdulaziz Al Mutairi pointed to the growing expertise in sub-specialties like spine and knee surgery, while senior dentist Dr Osama Behbehani praised Kuwait’s expansion of postgraduate dental programs, which have reduced the need for doctors to train abroad.

Organisers stressed that the conference not only showcases advances in Kuwaiti medical practice but also equips students and young doctors with opportunities to contribute directly to the nation’s health challenges.