Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) has warned of the long-term dangers of not following a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Marking World Obesity Day, Seha said maintaining an ideal weight and following a healthy lifestyle, which starts with paying attention to the types of food you eat, helps to prevent weight-related illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and some types of cancer.
Maintaining a healthy weight also helps to control cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
To encourage more people to adopt a healthier lifestyle, Seha gave the example of an Emirati woman, aged 62, who lost around 33 kilograms in eight months following a programme devised by one of its ideal weight clinics. She has also seen significant improvements in her health.
When the woman visited Neima Healthcare Centre in Al Ain, she had difficulty walking short distances. She had issues with her breathing during and after walking, and experienced pains in her ears, dizziness and sleep problems.
Latifa Al Dhaheri, a nutritionist at the centre, said a treatment plan was drawn up for the woman, centred around a weight-loss programme.
After following the plan, the patient's weight fell from 113.3kg to 80kg.
She was able to walk for 90 minutes and her ability to breathe and be active with her children improved.
Ministry encourages healthier lifestyles
The Ministry of Health and Prevention says about 27.8 per cent of adults in the UAE are considered to be obese, according to the 2017-18 National Health Survey.
The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents aged 5-17 years has reached 17.35 per cent, according to the latest statistics from a periodic examination of schoolchildren.
The World Health Organisation predicts that 2.7 billion adults worldwide will be overweight and obese by 2025.
Obesity and smoking are the major causes of increases in cancer, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes worldwide.
The ministry said, in co-operation with local health authorities, it promotes awareness of healthy lifestyles — part of a national action plan to deal with the challenge of obesity.
Several media awareness campaigns, such as the "Together We Move" campaign to promote physical activity among women aged 18-44 years, have been launched.
Other campaigns have highlighted the importance of healthy food and the harmful effects of sweetened drinks on health, in line with the government imposing a tax of 50 per cent on sweetened drinks and 100 per cent on energy drinks.
The ministry's Ma'kom for Active Life social media platform encourages the public to maintain their health, through health tips on healthy eating and physical activity.
It has also launched a "Healthy and Positive Workplace" initiative for its employees to create a supportive environment, encouraging them to adopt healthy lifestyles.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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