Just 12 months ago, Pakistani father of two Sarosh Sohail was facing an anxious year of ill health caused by obesity as he struggled to shift weight from his 163kg frame.
Plagued with high blood pressure and cholesterol, sleep apnoea and Type 2 diabetes, Mr Sohail was struggling to balance his health with family life and a career in TV production.
But after trying a batch of medications aimed at those with diabetes to help weight loss, he has never looked back and is now an astonishing 72kg lighter.
Mr Sohail now hopes more people with serious weight problems can benefit from changes to the way expensive drugs such as Mounjaro and Ozempic are prescribed.
“I had to fight with my health insurers to get Mounjaro approved because they said it was for cosmetic purposes, rather than health benefits,” said Mr Sohail, who has lived in Dubai for a decade.
“The reality is, it has been life changing. As soon as I started on Mounjaro, my craving for food just stopped. Initially the weight loss was really nice, about eight to 10kg in the first month.
“Then, of course, it reduced to 4kg to 5kg a month. My weight now is between 91kg and 93kg.
“Initially, because I was obese, the insurance covered the cost of medication – but only until October when my weight got down to about 100kg.
“Since then I have had to pay for it myself, which is about Dh1,750 ($476) a month for four injections.”
Health benefits
The heath problems associated with his obesity have all but disappeared, and he is also more patient with his family.
Despite the huge weight loss, Mr Sohail's target is to drop to 85kg.
“My portion sizes have really gone down,” he said.
“I could easily finish two 200g steaks at a time. Now, I can hardly finish one, and have gone from three meals a day to two.
“I used to see food and crave for it. Now I don't feel hungry at all.
“I strongly recommend obesity is considered a disease and that insurance should cover it. It is not a cosmetic thing.”
Dr Sushum Sharma, a lifestyle disorder specialist at Saudi German Hospital, who treated Mr Sohail, said: “Mr Sohail had visited multiple doctors without losing much weight before for various treatments.
“Most of my patients have lost 20kg to 25kg, but somehow this patient had exceptional weight loss.
“He was very careful with his diet and lifestyle and responded very well to the medication.
“Insurance depends on what type it is and will only clear if the patient has diabetes, so he qualified for it to be covered this time.
“If you lose weight, you will have control of your diabetes, but it is a mixed bag on how much weight is lost.”
The drugs, commonly called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, not only improve blood sugar control but can also lead to weight loss.
The medication mimics the action of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1.
As someone eats, blood sugars rise so the drug stimulates insulin production to lower those levels, which helps control Type 2 diabetes.
Although not entirely clear how GLP-1 drugs lead to weight loss, doctors do know they curb hunger and slow the movement of food through the body, making you feel full faster, and for longer.
From my perspective, there should be no boundaries to treat patients and I think costs can be a huge boundary for many
Prof Bart van Wagensveld,
bariatric surgeon
The kind of drugs used by Mr Sohail have surged in popularity in recent months.
Semaglutide, under the brand name Wegovy, is registered for weight loss in the UAE, rather than Ozempic, which is registered for Type 2 diabetes, while Tirzepatide is used under the brand name Mounjaro in the UAE. It is prescribed for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.
According to data compiled by Universal Drugstore, an international prescription referral service, between August 22 and July 2023, there were 151,400 searches on Google in the UAE for the drug Ozempic, one of the most popular GLP-1 agonist class of drugs.
Data was collected using Google Keyword planner, to see how many times each term was searched in the UAE.
Similar weight-loss drugs were also sought by people in the Emirates, with 48,000 searches for Metmorfin, 47,200 searches for Saxenda, 20,480 for Tirzepatide and 18,660 for Wegovy.
Profits for Novo Nordisk, the Danish drug manufacturer behind Ozempic and Wegovy, a drug with similar properties, surged by more than 45 per cent to about $5.7 billion (Dh20.9 billion) in the first half of 2023, due to global demand.
Prof Bart van Wagensveld, a bariatric surgeon and obesity expert at the Weight Management Unit at NMC Royal in Khalifa City, said the new drugs have revolutionised the way medics tackle obesity.
“Bariatric surgery is the longest standing treatment, with excellent results and it's a safe treatment,” he said.
“But with the new medication, we now have a new weapon.
“Before the introduction of the GLP1 agonist drugs, medication wasn't effective.
“Now we see very good results that are getting close to those of bariatric surgery.”
Monthly expense
Monthly costs for emaglutide products such as Ozempic are about Dh1,700 a month, or Dh20,000 for a year.
Bariatric surgery typically costs between Dh25,000 and Dh30,000 for a one-off procedure and follow-up care.
The UAE currently ranks fifth in the world, with about 28.4 per cent of the country classed as obese, according to the Worldwide Obesity Index.
Only the Pacific Islands of Nauru, Kiribati and Tuvalu – and Kuwait – have a higher obesity risk score, that also considers physical inactivity, diabetes and the number of people who are overweight.
While GLP-1 drugs do carry side effects, they are usually mild and include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea or constipation.
“There is one contraindication, such as thyroid cancer in the family, otherwise you can use it on a very broad scale,” Dr van Wagensveld said.
“Obesity is a chronic disease that needs lifelong treatment.
“Insurers do not always cover these costs of medication yet, but they should.
“From my perspective, there should be no boundaries to treat patients and I think costs can be a huge boundary for many.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The years Ramadan fell in May
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ECystic%20fibrosis%20is%20a%20genetic%20disorder%20that%20affects%20the%20lungs%2C%20pancreas%20and%20other%20organs.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIt%20causes%20the%20production%20of%20thick%2C%20sticky%20mucus%20that%20can%20clog%20the%20airways%20and%20lead%20to%20severe%20respiratory%20and%20digestive%20problems.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPatients%20with%20the%20condition%20are%20prone%20to%20lung%20infections%20and%20often%20suffer%20from%20chronic%20coughing%2C%20wheezing%20and%20shortness%20of%20breath.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ELife%20expectancy%20for%20sufferers%20of%20cystic%20fibrosis%20is%20now%20around%2050%20years.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
57%20Seconds
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FINAL RESULT
Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The%20Boy%20and%20the%20Heron
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
The design
The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
More than 80 per cent of the energy consumed by the French pavilion will be produced by the sun.
The architecture will control light sources to provide a highly insulated and airtight building.
The forecourt is protected from the sun and the plants will refresh the inner spaces.
A micro water treatment plant will recycle used water to supply the irrigation for the plants and to flush the toilets. This will reduce the pavilion’s need for fresh water by 30 per cent.
Energy-saving equipment will be used for all lighting and projections.
Beyond its use for the expo, the pavilion will be easy to dismantle and reuse the material.
Some elements of the metal frame can be prefabricated in a factory.
From architects to sound technicians and construction companies, a group of experts from 10 companies have created the pavilion.
Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EGlobal%20Islamic%20economy%20to%20grow%203.1%25%20to%20touch%20%242.4%20trillion%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fuk-economy-plunges-into-worst-ever-recession-after-record-20-4-contraction-1.1062560%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EUK%20economy%20plunges%20into%20worst-ever%20recession%20after%20record%2020.4%25%20contraction%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fbusiness%2Feconomy%2Fislamic-economy-consumer-spending-to-increase-45-to-3-2tn-by-2024-1.936583%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EIslamic%20economy%20consumer%20spending%20to%20increase%2045%25%20to%20%243.2tn%20by%202024%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
More coverage from the Future Forum
RESULT
Arsenal 2
Sokratis Papastathopoulos 45 4'
Eddie Ntkeiah 51'
Portsmouth 0
