Welcome Dr Hanen Samouda (PhD), Lead and Project Manager of the Obesity Medical Group based in Tunisia, North Africa, and Dr Hatem Jabbes (MD, DSc), Medical Group Leader. This COM team is made up of independent practice partners, collaborating as specialists in obesity management, including an endocrinologist, nutritionist, gastroenterologist, psychiatrist, anaesthetist, bariatric/metabolic surgeon, dietitian, nurse, and researcher, who together offer multidisciplinary management of obesity.
Thank you for speaking with us, Dr Samouda. Please could you provide your COM’s patient philosophy and approach?
At the Obesity Medical Group, we accept patients of all ages seeking treatment for overweight, obesity, and severe obesity, including those with obesity related to rare diseases. In Tunisia, patients often begin with dietetic consultations in primary care, but these are frequently ineffective, prompting referrals to bariatric/metabolic surgeons, in particular to Dr Jabbes in our group who set up a multidisciplinary consultation in collaboration with the other members of the team. Adolescents may also be referred by paediatricians or family doctors. We also accept international patients, especially from Europe, Canada, and Africa, who typically seek bariatric/metabolic surgery. These patients often face long waiting times or are disqualified due to strict criteria in their home countries, which are often more stringent than the international guidelines we follow, such as the 2022 ASMBS and IFSO recommendations.
Can you tell us how the Obesity Medical Group approaches obesity treatment?
Our approach to obesity management goes beyond weight loss, as we also focus on managing obesity-related complications to improve overall physical and psychological health. Treatment is personalised for each patient. We provide clear information about treatment options, potential side effects, and the importance of long-term disease management. The patient journey begins with essential assessments, including endocrinological, nutritional, psychological, endoscopic, and operative risk evaluations. When patients consult us, a bariatric/metabolic surgeon refers them to our multidisciplinary team for a comprehensive health check. Depending on the assessment, additional healthcare professionals, such as cardiologists or pulmonologists, may be involved. After the health check, the multidisciplinary team meets to determine the best treatment plan, whether medical or surgical. Patients can also consult directly with an endocrinologist or nutritionist, who will initiate the multidisciplinary approach. Typically, the treatment includes medical, nutritional, psychological and/or bariatric/metabolic surgery interventions. Obesity management is personalised according to the patient’s need. Currently, there are no obesity medications available in Tunisia.
Thank you. What news from the past 12 months can you share about your COM?
The Obesity Medical Group became part of the EASO COM network of accredited centres through the International Affiliated Membership scheme on 1st May 2024, and we are very pleased to be part of the network. Our team co-organised the First International Masterclass on Obesity in Tunisia on 28th and 29th June 2024. This event, led by the Obesity Academy in collaboration with the Tunisian Society of Bariatric Surgery, featured prominent national and international obesity experts, including EASO members, who discussed the causes, diagnosis, and management of obesity. The Masterclass was endorsed by Bias 180, Stéréo, and the Luxembourgish Association for the Study of Obesity. In November 2024, I had the privilege of attending the EASO COMs Summit Meeting in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, alongside Dr. Hatem Jabbes. I was also honoured to serve as Chairperson at the Summit. The Summit was excellent! The programme was delivered to a high scientific level, and the event gave us the great opportunity to connect with the other EASO COMs in person.
This edition highlights the Affiliate COM ‘Obesity Medical Group’ in Tunisia, led by Dr. Hanen Samouda (Lead and Project Manager) and Dr Hatem Jabbes (Medical Group Leader). The team takes a multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach, offering treatments such as medical nutrition therapies, psychological therapies, and bariatric surgery. Dr. Samouda shared recent milestones, including the group’s accreditation as part of the EASO COM network, co-organising the First International Masterclass on Obesity in Tunisia, and attending the EASO COMs Summit Meeting 2024 in Santiago de Compostela. Thank you, Dr. Samouda!