Over 300 doctors, medical experts, and students gathered recently in Al-Sulaymaniyah, located in northern Kurdistan. They came together to address a growing health emergency: youth obesity crisis. This alarming trend continues to rise as lifestyle habits among young people evolve rapidly.
During the scientific conference, the focus remained clear—youth obesity crisis is reaching dangerous levels. Dr. Kamaran Hassan, the event’s lead supervisor, opened the gathering by stressing the urgency of the situation. He pointed out that many children and adolescents now spend long hours glued to screens, barely moving throughout the day.
Instead of outdoor play or physical activity, young people now scroll endlessly through social media or sit hunched over gaming devices. This shift in daily behavior plays a major role in the youth obesity crisis. Dr. Hassan emphasized that this isn’t just about screen time—it’s also about what they eat.
Fast food, sugary snacks, and processed meals dominate many young people’s diets. As a result, unhealthy eating habits combine with inactivity to fuel the obesity epidemic. Experts at the conference agreed that reversing this trend requires immediate, focused action.
More than just a health issue, the rise in youth obesity threatens the region’s future well-being. Dr. Hassan argued that today’s choices shape tomorrow’s challenges. If this generation continues down this path, the healthcare system may buckle under rising cases of diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems linked to obesity.
The conference served as a vital space for presenting new medical research and discussing practical solutions. Health professionals shared recent studies highlighting how diet, screen time, and lack of exercise lead to early-onset health issues. They urged policymakers to implement programs in schools and communities that promote healthy lifestyles.
One recommended step involves adding nutrition education to school curriculums. Another includes building public parks and sports facilities to encourage physical activity. The doctors also suggested limiting advertisements for junk food, especially those targeting children.
Many speakers stressed that families also play a crucial role. Parents must monitor screen use, prepare balanced meals, and encourage active play. The youth obesity crisis, repeated throughout the event, calls for a united response from all sectors of society.
As the event concluded, attendees echoed the same warning: ignoring this crisis will only deepen the problem. The youth obesity crisis won’t solve itself. Immediate action remains the only path forward.