UAE NEEDS TO STEP IT UP AND GET MORE ACTIVE
▶ But fares better than expected in global study on physical activity
Given the heat is at times unbearable, we have the perfect excuse to be a nation that shuns walking.
But the UAE, surprisingly, fared better than expected in a global study on exercise. Although, clearly, there is room for improvement.
Researchers at Stanford University in California tracked the physical activity of more than 100 countries by measuring the number of steps individuals take every day, as recorded by their smart phones.
They found the average was about 5,000 steps per person. The UAE ranked below that with 4,516 steps a day, although it was broadly in line with North America, Europe and Asia.
With its crowded streets, bustling metro and nearby trails for hiking, Hong Kong topped the chart with an average of 6,880 steps a day. Indonesia was at the bottom of the ranking with 3,513 steps.
“More and more people have access to cars and taxis, meaning they don’t walk as much as they should,” said Rahma Ali, a clinical dietitian at Burjeel Hospital.
Hot weather and unhealthy eating habits are the two main factors leading to obesity.
The heat outside is often an excuse, although it should not be, she said. “I advise my clients to walk for at least 30 minutes a day. But many are not happy with this because the humidity and heat stop them. That’s why we are witnessing such high rates of obesity.”
Overweight patients sent to her can be as young as 10, with parents saying they “can’t go outside and play due to hot weather conditions”.
She did say that the development of “indoor facilities where children are able to play and run around” would help to boost movement.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer at Stay Fit, said there should be no excuse, given that many apartment buildings have gyms and there are other places to walk.
“You can do a really good workout at home. You can walk around the house, jog on the spot, go up and down the stairs – this will get your upper body moving and heart rate faster,” she said.
Researchers used data to retrieve age, gender, height and weight status of users who registered with a smartphone application that has built-in sensors that automatically record the number of steps that users take each day.
But, given that the information was based on smartphone data, there was little from Africa, where overall car ownership is low and children walking to school is more common.
Other countries with well-documented obesity problems, such as Saudi Arabia, scored low on the steps survey, although, as announced this week, the Saudis will soon offer physical education for girls in public schools for the first time.
Published in the global journal Nature, the study found that countries with a bigger difference between the fittest and the laziest also had higher rates of obesity.
The findings were linked to reports that five million people die every year from causes linked with inactivity. While also portraying how countries, gender and communities view physical activity, it has provided vital insight for improving people’s health.
The researchers, led by computer scientist Jure Leskovec and bio-engineer Scott Delp, also charted a new public health risk they call “activity inequality”. The statistics were used to calculate activity inequality by comparing countries with similar activity patterns and those with unequal activity, certain patterns and health dynamics.
Results found that the bigger the activity inequality, the higher the rates of obesity.
Individuals who live in countries with the greatest activity inequality are about 200 per cent more likely to be obese than those from countries with the lowest activity inequality.
The researchers hope their work will help to improve public health campaigns against obesity and support policies to make cities more walkable.
You can do a really good workout at home. You can walk around the house, jog on the spot, go up and down the stairs