Drive for UAE military recruits to shape up

Lt Col Dr Moza Al Shehhi, head of the physical readiness department, Homaid Al Shimmari, Mubadala chief executive with responsibility for defence, and Dr Maha El Adawy, director of health protection aShow more

ABU DHABI // A campaign aimed at improving the fitness of military recruits was launched on Sunday.

The National Service and Reserve Staff Authority initiative was created after a large number of National Service conscripts were found to be in poor health.

The year-long Your Body Is Your Responsibility campaign intends to engage Emirati youth and the community using a social media campaign.

General Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, director of the National Service Authority, said a collective effort was needed to ensure the readiness of recruits beginning their service.

“The most important aspect is participation,” he said. “If all participate – not only government and the companies but also the community – then the initiative will be successful.”

Lt Col Dr Moza Al Shehhi, head of the physical readiness department at the authority, said National Service provided an opportunity to cut the prevalence of obesity in the country.

Dr Al Shehhi said a study of recruits at the start of National Service in 2014 found that 68 per cent of those serving were as overweight or obese.

“We found there was a problem with physical inactivity and overweight and obesity,” said Dr Al Shehhi, who completed a doctoral degree on obesity in the UAE.

She said the authority would collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation to get the message across to Emiratis at an earlier age.

Dr Al Shehhi hoped a pre-National Service programme would be implemented in schools.

Beginning in January, the campaign will focus on the merits of physical fitness and sports. It will then highlight a different health topic each month of 2017.

Other subjects covered will include obesity, nutrition, mental health, smoking, health during Ramadan, drug awareness and vitamin D.

Dr Maha El Adawy, director of health protection and promotion at the World Health Organisation’s Eastern Mediterranean office, praised the campaign because it was at the heart of her organisation’s mission.

“We know that chronic illnesses start at a very young age, so initiatives such as this targeting children and families to promote their physical activity and nutrition are key,” she said.

With 28 per cent of men in the region in ill-health compared to almost 40 per cent of women, Dr El-Adawy said it was important for the message to reach women.

The campaign’s app, Tahaddi, or Challenge, will include customised exercise programmes, healthy eating, and diet programmes as well as recording daily activity and sleep.

Dr Al Shehhi said further awareness among women was being achieved through the female military recruits.

“We have a large number of women joining the military for the purpose of being physically active,” she said.

“This will affect our reach as they are, or will be, mothers who will educate their children and raise them to be healthy,” she said.

The campaign has also been supported by the UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation and the sports councils of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.