WEMA Health, a new digital health start-up, unveils in the UAE by announcing a Seed Investment of USD3.5Mn, incubated under Europe’s largest digital health company, Dawn Health. Founded in March 2022, WEMA Health tackles the rising obesity pandemic in the region, where it’s reported that two in three people are overweight.
WEMA Health stated that Co-developed with the world’s leading obesity scientists Prof. Filip K. Knop and Dr. Rita Nawar, the science-backed medical weight loss program offers a virtual-first, medicated, end-to-end obesity program that helps its members lose up to 20% of their body weight by deploying in-house top specialists.
WEMA Health connects its users with endocrine specialists on the state-of-the-art app, with a focus on diet, exercise, and psycho-social support. WEMA Health also makes available to members the modern and clinically documented weight loss medicine, GLP-1, which is prescribed in tandem with professional and personalized cognitive-behavioral coaching, so members are empowered to make lasting lifestyle changes.
Co-Founder and Head of MENA for WEMA Health, Leyla Azizova explained: “Obesity affects approximately 20 million people in the GCC alone, impacting not only their health but also their overall quality of life. In the Middle East, it’s estimated to cost the healthcare system USD 30 Bn every year. With the innovation that WEMA Health brings, we will be able to help people with obesity to a healthier and happier life.”
Principal Advisor of WEMA Health, Anders Dyhr Toft continued: “Combining medicines, coaching and best-in-class digital solutions, can be very powerful in healthcare. Modern weight loss medication is highly suitable for a virtual prescription and lifestyle intervention, and at WEMA Health, we will strive to help our members achieve an unprecedented, sustained weight loss of up to 20%. WEMA Health’s global launch will be initiated in Denmark and UAE, and then several European countries will follow.”
Dr Rita Nawar, WEMA Health Medical Director and leading UAE endocrinologist explained that, unlike popular belief, weight loss is not a matter of willpower, but a metabolic issue. “Metabolic health involves not only the food we eat but also our energy and stress levels, emotional health and sleeping pattern. All these aspects play an important role and need to be taken care of when a person wants to lose weight.”
Co-Founder and Head of MENA for WEMA Health, Leyla Azizova explained: “Obesity affects approximately 20 million people in the GCC alone, impacting not only their health but also their overall quality of life. In the Middle East, it’s estimated to cost the healthcare system USD 30 Bn every year. With the innovation that WEMA Health brings, we will be able to help people with obesity to a healthier and happier life”.
Dr. Rita Nawar, WEMA Health Medical Director and leading UAE endocrinologist explained that, unlike popular belief, weight loss is not a matter of willpower, but a metabolic issue. “Metabolic health involves not only the food we eat but also our energy and stress levels, emotional health, and sleeping pattern. All these aspects play an important role and need to be taken care of when a person wants to lose weight.”
