Thousands sign up for weight-loss challenge

About 4,000 people have already signed up for Dubai Municipality’s Your Child in Gold contest.

DUBAI // About 4,000 people have so far signed up online to take part in a weight-loss campaign that could earn them a gram of gold for every kilogram lost on the scales.

The Your Child in Gold campaign was announced five days ago with initial weigh-ins due to start on Tuesday. Organisers Dubai Municipality expect 15,000 people to take part.

Walid Al Shaibani, who is coordinating the initiative, said it was about trying to boost public health and reducing the burden obesity places on hospitals in the city.

“Dubai aims to be one of the healthiest cities in the world,” he said. “To achieve this goal we need to change our food habits and promote physical activity to to reduce lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, cholesterol and diabetes.”

This is the second time the campaign has run. Last year, 9,666 people signed up but less than half completed the programme. The biggest loser was Ahmad Al Shaikh, a Syrian, who shed 26kg.

This time the focus will be on families, who can register as a group. If a child from the family drops more than 2kg, each member will get 2g of gold for every additional kilogram of weight they lose. Individuals can participate, although they will get only 1g of gold for every kilogram lost.

Weigh-ins begin on Tuesday and continue to July 24. The timings are from 9pm to midnight, every day, at Al Mamzar jogging track, Al Khawaneej jogging track gate 3, Safa Park gate 2, Zabeel Park gate 3, and Al Barsha Park main entrance.

People wishing to participate are required to first register their details at www.thedmgold.com, and take a printout of their registration along with their national ID card to the weigh-in.