Eating well (even fast food) is key to combating obesity

The DHA has a new public awareness campaign to increase children's knowledge about health.

Teenagers do not have to completely give up eating fast food to be healthy, according to the head of an anti-obesity campaign being launched next month in Dubai. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) developed the programme after research showed 35 per cent of school-aged children in the emirate are overweight or obese. In the United States, 15 per cent of children are in those categories.

"Obesity is not a risk factor, it is a disease itself," said Dr Fatma al Attar, the head of the DHA's community programme section. "We have to focus on behaviour and environment." The campaign called "Move More, Eat Smart and Be Fit" will teach children to make healthy choices while still engaging in normal teenage activities, Dr al Attar said. "There will be a message about how to eat in fast food restaurants. They will learn how to increase their physical activity and how to balance caloric intake and output," she said.

Younger children will be introduced to Salim, a cartoon character who makes healthy choices and encourages them to do the same. The "Salim Says" campaign aims to give young children the foundation for making healthy choices throughout their lives. Mrs Rania Halawani, a dietician in Dubai, was not surprised by the high rate of obesity among schoolchildren. The culture of the city focuses on food and ignores activity, she said.

"All our kids do for entertainment is eat, and they do no activity at all," she said. "Half of the year kids are not able to play outside because of the weather. Gyms and play areas are not free. So parents need to find time and money to let their children be active." The DHA campaign will also target parents, health professionals and teachers, to ensure that children are always in an environment where they are encouraged to make healthy choices.

While parents fret about their children's weight, often it is the parents' habits that are increasing the size of the children, Dr al Attar said. "Sweet food is used as a reward for the kids, which is very bad," she said. "Have fun with your kids. Take them to the park, to the beach. They will enjoy it so much more." [e-mail]