The GCC's rapid economic transformation, urbanisation and population growth are primary drivers of the region's high obesity rates. The population is expected to grow from 61.3 million in 2025 to over 70.6 million by 2035, fueling lifestyle shifts that contribute to the condition. Key contributing factors include:
 

• Lifestyle changes: Rising per-capita incomes have led to the widespread adoption of diets high in processed foods and sugar, alongside more sedentary lifestyles.

• Environmental factors: Extremely high temperatures across the Middle East limit outdoor physical activity for much of the year, a factor reflected in surveys where a majority of adults in the GCC report insufficient physical activity.

• Demographics: High life expectancy and a genetic predisposition in parts of the population further compound the challenge.

GCC governments are actively implementing detailed national strategies to curb obesity. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 includes goals to increase physical activity, complemented by its Ministry of Health (MOH) Obesity Control Program and a best-practice trans-fat (TFA) policy. The UAE’s National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 promotes healthy lifestyles, backed by specific clinical frameworks like the Dubai Health Authority's (DHA) Ejada program and the 2025 Ministry of Health & Prevention (MOHAP) National Clinical Guideline for Weight Management. School health programs are also becoming a cornerstone of obesity prevention across the GCC, with governments introducing nutrition standards, mandatory physical education, and awareness campaigns targeting children and parents to instill healthy habits early. These initiatives complement broader national wellness strategies and foster a more informed and health-conscious generation. This proactive, region-wide approach is further reinforced by targeted regulations, including excise taxes on sugary beverages, trans-fat and calorie-labelling requirements, restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

The private sector is emerging as a crucial partner in this effort. Private hospitals are launching multidisciplinary weight-management centres, and public-private partnership (PPP) models are shifting more care into private hands, particularly in Saudi Arabia. This combined effect allows for the efficient introduction of global expertise and advanced technologies, creating an ecosystem primed for developing standalone centres of excellence and integrated clinical infrastructure.