DUBAI // Do not sit for more than 90 minutes and start concentrating on what food you put in your mouth.
That was the message delivered by Dr Maha Barakat, head of the Health Authority Abu Dhabi, as she spoke on the importance of tackling Type 2 diabetes — one of the most prevalent yet preventable health burdens in the UAE.
“Recent studies have shown not to multitask when you eat,” said Dr Barakat, speaking on the sidelines of Arab Health.
“Because if you try to watch TV or read a paper while you are eating you do not know what you are putting in your mouth.
“There is data to suggest if you watch TV while you are eating you end up eating 40 per cent more. Not only do you actually eat more but you cannot actually remember what you have eaten so your brain thinks you are still hungry later.”
She said there were new studies suggesting to concentrate on what you are eating while you are eating.
“So when you sit down for a meal make sure you notice your food and don’t multitask.”
Each January, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) reveals its revisions to clinical practice recommendations and Dr Barakat spoke about the annual changes made by the health body.
A new piece of advice this year is guidance on how often people should get up and get moving.
“In 2015, the American Diabetes Association has again emphasised the importance of lifestyle and prevention of diabetes and in particular, for the first time, they have put a limit on the amount of time a person should remain sedentary,” said Dr Barakat.
“They said this should be no more than 90 minutes.
“So if you have been sitting for an hour and a half you should get up and do something.”
This is in addition to the recommended weekly exercise, she said. International guidelines recommend at least half an hour exercise a day to stay healthy.
“For children they should do 60 minutes of daily activity.”
The ADA revisions comes on the back of a YouGov survey, commissioned by The National, which revealed one in three residents do absolutely no exercise.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with poor lifestyle choices and can be prevented by healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating the right foods, avoiding being overweight and exercising, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
“About 85 per cent of all diabetes cases are Type 2 yet it is the one that is preventable,” said Dr Barakat. “We can prevent Type 2 diabetes whereas we cannot really prevent Type 1.”
The most recent IDF data reports there are 37 million diabetics in the region, including 803,900 in the UAE.
The IDF said about 40 per cent (327,000) of victims in the UAE were unaware they have the disease.
It predicted the regional figure would rise by more than 80 per cent to 68 million by 2035 unless action was taken.
Dr Saf Naqvi, consultant diabetologist and endocrinologist and deputy chairman of the medical board at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, urged more people to get active.
“Daily exercise, in combination with a balanced diet and normal body weight are proven to help manage, prevent and even reverse conditions like diabetes and related complications such as cardiovascular disease,” he said. “Daily exercise can mean just 30 minutes of brisk walking — even if broken down over three sessions of 10 minutes each.
“In addition, exercise increases your energy levels, helps relieve stress and contributes to an overall healthy lifestyle.”
Arab Health is the Middle East’s largest healthcare event and the second largest in the world. Now in its 40th year, the four-day event is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
jbell@thenational.ae
