Scientific conference ‘2023 Updates on Obesity’

Organized by the SASA Board for Endocrinology and the Impact of Environmental Factors, the scientific conference titled ‘2023 Updates on Obesity’ will be held at the SASA Grand Hall, on Thursday, 9 November, at 9 a.m.

According to epidemiological data, 35,1% of people in Serbia are overweight, while 21,2% are obese. The World Obesity Federation research results estimate that by 2040 around 4 billion people in the world will have been affected by obesity. The data point to the tremendous effect obesity has on the health system of each affected country.

Through a multidisciplinary approach of renowned experts, this conference aims to address various aspects of obesity: from pathophysiology, epidemiology, comorbidity of some endocrine glands and obesity, to obesity-induced complications and therapeutic approaches in the form of lifestyle changes, drug treatment and bariatric surgical procedures. The conference will discuss the gut-brain axis and its role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Particular attention will be paid to the most recent epidemiological data related to obesity in Serbia, as well as the analysis of the rise of obesity trends in our country. Experimental animal models, as well as the role of the immune system in the development of obesity and its complications, will be examined within pathophysiology.

Obesity is linked to diabetes development, so the interrelations between diabetes and obesity will be specially analysed. The latest data on the relationship between obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) will be presented. The comorbidity of obesity and cardiovascular diseases is extremely important, therefore a separate lecture will be devoted to this topic. Bearing in mind that lowered function of the thyroid gland causes the metabolism to slow down, which results in the increase of body weight, the connection between thyroid function and obesity development will be assessed.

Furthermore, the scientific conference will address the following topics. the correlation between obesity and the occurrence of certain types of cancer, the comorbidity of obesity and the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and lifestyle change with increased physical activity as one of the basic obesity therapy approaches. Also, within the surgical approach to obesity therapy, modern endoscopic procedures like the placement of a gastric balloon in the stomach will be considered, as well as the latest procedures in metabolic and bariatric surgery.

A live stream is available at LIVE STREAMING