AFP
Doha
Mutaz Essa Barshim admits he has emerged as a trailblazer in Qatar's battle of the bulge, encouraging compatriots to incorporate exercise and healthy living as part of a worrying lifestyle trend.
Qatar is seeing increasing rates of obesity, vitamin D deficiency, cholesterol and diabetes, largely linked to a lifestyle that includes little or no exercise and a penchant for fast food.
The world high jump champion says now he has a greater responsibility off the track too.
"I'm a sportsperson," he said."But it's becoming a duty for me because I'm now becoming an ambassador for the sport. When I'm talking about sport, it's not profesional sport but sport as a lifestyle. You have to add sport to your lifestyle, it's each house, each family," Barshim said."From that you never know what will happen."
Latest studies show that more than 70 percent of the Qatari population are obese.
Barshim, talking at a press conference in Doha, argues that things were changing.
"I've been participating in a lot of programmes with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), with health departments," he said.
"We do so much exercising, touring and guiding talking to people and it's been working out really well. We are really moving forward with that."
That has manifested itself in increased interest in the Diamond League meet, which will be held this year in Doha on Friday, he says.
"Definitely, five years ago at the stadium it was just people doing the sport, not people outside that," Barshim said.
"You see now that you're affecting people, people are inspired, changing. I have many families coming even to my house, asking to go to the stadium with me. I see the changes coming. Sometimes it may need time, but it's coming, definitely."
Barshim added:"I feel that I'm inspiring people by doing what I'm doing and by always trying to be the best of the best and even better.
"I want people to enjoy sport as a lifestyle and enjoy their time in it, and not to think about the Olympics as the first goal because it comes step by step."