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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
ONE needs to be active on a daily basis and not just on National Sport Day to keep lifestyle diseases at bay, Dr Shaimaa Arroub, endocrinology consultant at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), has said.
Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Arroub praised the Qatar National Health Strategy which aims to bring the rate of obesity by 5 percent by 2022. Obesity, which is one of the major health problems in Qatar, and diabetes, are interrelated worldwide.
She also lauded Qatar for building facilities that support people to have a healthier lifestyle. “We are focusing on promoting healthy lifestyle and the National Sport Day gives us an opportunity to develop healthy behaviour in society, especially among children and adolescents.”
Describing obesity as the main risk factor for diabetes, she said that 80 percent of diabetics are obese or overweight worldwide.
According to her, the current statistics in Qatar show that more than 70 percent of Qataris have unhealthy weight with 28.7 percent being overweight and 41.4 percent obese. Among them, about 43 percent are between 5 and 19 years old. “I believe that the message now should be about childhood and adolescent obesity because when we prevent this, once they are adults they will not have this complication.”
She said that instilling healthy behaviours involves having a healthy diet. “According to statistics Qataris have junk food more than thrice a week, which is an unhealthy habit.”
According to her, people should have healthier choices even when they are eating out including salads, avoiding sugars; reducing the intake of carbohydrates; reducing junk food.
She said that people should take advantage of the current favourable weather to do outdoor activities. “We should build behaviour that helps us to increase our activity per day. For example, one should use stairs instead of a lift or park one’s car at a distance so that one has a chance to walk especially now that the weather is cool. If you cannot go to the gym everyday, simply walk more.”
Arroub advised that one should exercise at least for about 150 minutes a week.
HMC will host several activities at Katara on the National Sport Day. There will be booths for diabetes screening, measuring of blood pressure, Body Mass Index, among others.
More to that HMC has about 5 clinics for diabetes care and obesity.
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11/02/2019
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