Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat-Saudi medical experts report that psychological disorders are among the chief causes of obesity and that 80 percent of cases of obesity in Saudi Arabia can be traced back to psychological disorders.

Dr. Hussein Hamid Dekheil, a surgery consultant who is responsible for licensing biotherapists at Jeddah health department, pointed out that depression, anxiety, frustration and fear are the four factors that play a key role in obesity. Bad food habits and malnutrition are the results of these psychological problems and causes of obesity.

Talking to Asharq Al Awsat on the sidelines of the preparations for the first conference on alternative medicine scheduled for next week in Jeddah, Dekheil said the revolution in the treatment of nutrition problems and obesity is the use of laser acupuncture, a more developed therapy than needle acupuncture that is used by the French-German school. He added that this technique has better results because laser has a deeper penetration than acupuncture and allows more precise positioning. He pointed out that the physical fitness program that he will present during the conference focuses on the treatment of the underlying causes of obesity through the examination of the physiological functions of the digestive system, the regulation of digestive juices and the examining of overweight patients.

The conference will discuss the potential of laser acupuncture and its possible uses to accurately diagnose diseases such as diabetes. The technology is used effectively to regulate the body’s biological energy and treat various diseases efficiently.

The conference, to be held 20-21st May, 2007 in the Hilton Hotel, will be inaugurated by the Governor of Jeddah, Prince Mishal bin Majid bin Abdulaziz, and Saudi Health Minister, Dr. Hamad al Mane’.