Experts on quitting smoking say that stopping the habit need not mean weight gain as long as quitters exercise and eat healthily. Sammy Dallal / The National
Experts on quitting smoking say that stopping the habit need not mean weight gain as long as quitters exercise and eat healthily. Sammy Dallal / The National

Ramadan is perfect time to quit smoking, say UAE health experts



ABU DHABI// Smokers are often afraid to quit because of a fear of putting on weight, experts on stopping the habit have said.

They urged addicts not to put vanity ahead of their health, and to use Ramadan as a perfect opportunity to kick the habit.

“They think that when they quit smoking they will gain weight,” said Dr Hanan Ali Obaid, head of the Dubai Tobacco-Free Project.

It was one of the main concerns raised by those seeking help from smoking-cessation clinics run by Dubai Health Authority, she said.

Some smokers put on a few kilograms after quitting because they overindulged when their sense of taste returned, but weight gained could be avoided by healthy eating and exercising, Dr Ali Obaid said.

Quitting is probably the most important thing smokers can do for their health and the benefits are immediate, she said.

They should use the holy month to quit because Muslims are not allowed to smoke in the long hours between sunrise and sunset. Non-Muslims are also prohibited from smoking in public places, making it difficult to have a cigarette.

Dr Samer Makhoul, an addiction specialist and head of the psychiatry department at Al Noor Hospital’s Airport Road branch in Abu Dhabi, agreed that smokers thinking about quitting often voiced fears about putting on weight.

“Smoking is an addiction and smokers – they want to make any excuse not to stop smoking,” he said. “One of them is always ‘I heard people who stop smoking gain weight’.”

One of the reasons people may put on weight after kicking the habit was that they nibbled on food more after quitting to mimic the hand-to-mouth motion of smoking, said Dr Makhoul. “That is the problem when you quit smoking. You want to have something in your mouth,” he said.

“Also, unconsciously, you feel like you are allowed to be a bit naughty around food if you stop smoking because you are now healthier.”

Instead of reaching for the chocolate, choose healthy alternatives such as chopped carrots or cucumber, he said.

Ramadan was always a good month to stop smoking, he agreed.

“You are managing up to about 16 hours at a time without cigarettes, so you are managing all those withdrawal symptoms. All you need to do is manage a little longer and it is done.”

After 48 hours you will have passed the worst of the withdrawal symptoms, he said.

Dr Harpreet Saini, a specialist in addictive behaviour and head of family medicine at Healthpoint in Abu Dhabi, said smokers could quit without affecting their weight in the longer term by following simple tips when kicking the habit.

She said filling up on soup and water at iftar was a good starting point.

“This will stop you from overindulging in the carbohydrate-rich dishes that define most iftar menus and leave you with a false sense of satisfaction,” she said.

“Similarly, if you find yourself peckish later in the night, reach for vegetables, fruits and nuts – which are higher in protein and fibre – instead of snacks full of empty carbs and calories.

“Another trick to quell your hunger is to brush your teeth often during the night. If your mouth is fresh and clean, you may have less of an urge to eat, or smoke for that matter.”

Exercise also helps to curb cigarette cravings and relieve withdrawal symptoms, she said.

Dr Jeffrey Chapman, the chief of the respiratory and critical care institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, agreed Ramadan was the perfect time to stub out the habit.

“Continuing to abstain from smoking between sundown and sunrise throughout the holy month is an excellent catalyst to help you quit for good,” he said.

“Quitting smoking helps to lower the risk of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, emphysema, hypertension and kidney disease.”

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Name: HyperSpace
 
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Rating: 4.5/5

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  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
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Fiction
"The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday)

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"Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America" by W. Caleb McDaniel (Oxford University Press)

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Omar Yabroudi's factfile

Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah

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2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship

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Meydan race card

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Dubai World Cup nominations

UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer

USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.

Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.

RESULT

RS Leipzig 3 

Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'

Emil Forsberg 87'

Tottenham 0

 

At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020

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Asuka won the SmackDown Women's title in a TLC triple threat with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair

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Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton in a chairs match

Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre

Natalya beat Ruby Riott in a tables match

Braun Strowman beat Baron Corbin in a TLC match

Sheamus and Cesaro retained the SmackDown Tag Titles against The Usos and New Day

R-Truth and Carmella won the Mixed Match Challenge by beating Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

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Rating: 2/5

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

The UN General Assembly President in quotes:

YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”

PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”

OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”

REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”

360Vuz PROFILE

Date started: January 2017
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Avengers: Endgame

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin

4/5 stars 

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures

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10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
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Friday, December 1:

9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates

MATCH INFO

UAE Division 1

Abu Dhabi Harlequins 12-24 Abu Dhabi Saracens

Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34

Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings

1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points

2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188

3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169

4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117

5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116

6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67

7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56

8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45

9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35

10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26

Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site

The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.