SCOPE School Riyadh: Obesity management as a shared responsibility

The World Obesity Federation hosted its inaugural SCOPE School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday 31 January 2026, with almost 100 participants in attendance.

Over the past few decades, obesity levels have risen significantly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This event aimed to educate a diverse audience, including healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, media professionals, and individuals with lived experience, on clinical approaches to obesity prevention and management. 

This SCOPE School, chaired by Nasreen Alfaris, consultant endocrinologist from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, included discussions on regional roadmaps for obesity from the Chief Officer for National Health Improvement and Prevention, Public Health Authority, as well as presentations on the biology of obesity, pharmacotherapy, and interactive case study sessions. The agenda ensured a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to support people living with obesity, including presentations on bariatric surgery and lifestyle management.

Attendees said they would definitely recommend attending a SCOPE School to a colleague and their clinical practice and confidence in managing patients with obesity changed as a result of their attendance.