Health statistics paint a bleak picture of life in the UAE, with obesity highlighted as an area of particular concern. As The National reported yesterday, the UAE is among the top five most overweight countries in the world, with 66 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women reported as either being obese or overweight. The picture is not much better among children, with 40 per cent of 11 to 15 year olds weighing more than they should. It's an irony that this should occur in a country that offers innumerable indoor fitness facilities and one which is also blessed with near perfect conditions for training outdoors for at least half of the year.
Despite an abundance of evidence extolling the benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle and a healthy diet, many of us are still guilty of preferring to indulge in fast food and sedentary lives. It is far easier to stay on the couch than it is to seek out a fitness coach.
The consequences of this inertia go far beyond physical appearances. Obesity is linked to diabetes – a condition that already affects one in five Emiratis – as well as heart disease and a range of other life-altering conditions. Evidence also suggests that overweight children are more susceptible to bullying and to long-term mental health problems. All of this is not just likely to place stress on the individual, but on this country’s institutions too, most notably government health care facilities and, indeed, on the government’s budget.
To encourage debate about these issues, The National yesterday launched its Healthy Living campaign. The campaign began with the story of Shahzad Ahmed, a once overweight Pakistani-Canadian expatriate who was previously unable to run for more than a few metres, but who is now in the middle of a two-week cycling tour around some of Europe's most challenging terrain. Mr Ahmed offers a powerful example of someone who has been able to manage his weight – and his story also illustrates perfectly how it is never too late to make a positive change. He did this by taking small steps and by turning them into great strides, which is something that all of us can learn from.
