DH500 FOR EVERY KILOGRAM LOST: RAK’S BIG WEIGHT-LOSS CHALLENGE
▶ Ten-week programme will use financial inducements to encourage participants to change their lifestyles
Residents in Ras Al Khaimah are being encouraged to lose weight in a challenge offering up to Dh500 for every kilogram lost.
The RAK Biggest Weight Loser Challenge began yesterday in association with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and is open to all residents over the age of 18.
The 10-week programme aims to help people to make positive changes in their lifestyles and prevent risks associated with being overweight.
“The main aim is to motivate UAE residents to change their dietary and exercise habits so that they lead a healthier lifestyle eventually,” said Dr Raza Siddiqui, chief executive of the Arabian Healthcare Group.
“Ten weeks is a long time to build a habit and I’m confident that once people experience the value of a healthy life they will never go back to old ways.”
Obesity is among the greatest health concerns in the UAE, with about 70 per cent of men and 67 per cent of women older than 14 considered overweight, the ministry said.
Unhealthy eating habits and socio-economic factors are among the largest contributors for growing obesity rates.
“Excess weight can cause many serious complications and chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and sugar, and high cholesterol, and increase the chances of having strokes and heart diseases,” said Dr Ruba El Hourani, clinical dietitian at RAK hospital.
“Changing your lifestyle and eating habits can definitely help more than following a strict diet for a short period of time. Losing weight gradually is much better and heathier than losing weight fast.”
Participants will be examined by a doctor who will record their height, weight, body-mass index and blood pressure. They will be given a weekly diet plan and a list of exercise suggestions.
Their weight will be monitored every week and the final weigh in will be at RAK Hospital. Two winners will be awarded the cash prize with runner-up prizes including gym vouchers and annual health packages and spa vouchers at the hospital.
“The competition will encourage the participants to make more efforts and stick to the schedule, and if they did follow the programme for 10 weeks it’s most probable that it will become their new lifestyle and will get used to it more and more,” Dr El Hourani said.
Losing her pregnancy weight, starting a healthier lifestyle and being able to fit into her old dresses are just some of the reasons Anu Mol, 40, is taking part in the challenge.
The mother of two used to weigh 65 kilograms but gained 15kg after giving birth to her second child and, says she is now struggling to shed it.
“I work for long hours and I didn’t dedicate some time for exercising until last month when I started running around the neighbourhood for about 30 minutes,” said Ms Mol, a nurse. “But my food habits are still the same, so I decided to take part in the challenge.
“I am aiming to lose around eight to 10kg and follow their instructions. I don’t aim to find a fast solution. I want to change my eating habits and live a better life with good health and a body that can fit into any dress.
She said an old Indian tradition also contributed to her weight gain.
“My mother made me eat a lot while pregnant as part of the tradition and also after giving birth to help with breastfeeding,” Ms Mol said.
“These are all old traditions that sometimes makes the situation worse. Also a lot of our traditional food contains bad carbohydrates and should be replaced with something healthier.”
Another participant said she was not motivated by the money but hoped the challenge would help her to start a healthier lifestyle by losing the weight she has gained over the past six months.
“It’s not about the money, it’s about becoming healthier and fit,” said Bareerah Sahir, 26, a Pakistani medical student. “Sometimes in order to accomplish those you need some competition and encouragement.
“I used to weigh 57kg last August but now I’m 74kg. Our food contains a lot of carbohydrates and it should be controlled, therefore a diet that actually replaces the bad eating habits with good and healthy ones is the thing that I’m hoping to stick to forever.”
In 2013, Dubai Municipality introduced the Your Weight in Gold campaign, offering at least a gram of gold for every kilogram lost.
The incentive proved a great success, with more than 3,000 dieters shedding a total of almost 17,000kg during the sixweek challenge in its first year.
I want to change my eating habits and live a life with a body that can fit into any dress ANU MOL Nurse