Half of UAE residents shun regular exercise

Almost 50 per cent of men and women in the UAE are not getting enough exercise, new figures show.

Data compiled by the World Health Organisation found the Emirates ranked alongside the UK and the US in having some of the least active populations in the world.

Kuwait was the worst offender, where 67 per cent of the adult population does not do the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week, the study showed.

In the UAE, researchers found 41 per cent of the population was not taking enough weekly exercise to lead a healthy lifestyle, increasing the risk of health complications later in life.

“Staying fit and active throughout your life has many benefits,” said Dr Yasser Sadawey, of Medeor 24x7 International Hospital in Al Ain. “Exercise helps keep your heart healthy and strong, and maintains good cholesterol.

“And there are all the traditional benefits of exercise such as lower blood pressure, better control of weight, leaner, stronger muscles, stronger bones and more energy.”

The global organisation’s researchers compiled data from 358 surveys in 168 countries, involving nearly two million people.

Questions covered physical activity at work and during leisure time.

The results, published in the medical journal Lancet Public Health, found 36 per cent of the UK’s population was failing to take enough exercise.

The study showed that in Finland, one of the fittest nations in the world, only 17 per cent of people were not hitting the exercise target.

Dubai Health Authority recently launched a programme to encourage more pupils to exercise in schools to curb the nation’s increasing rate of childhood obesity.

A recent YouGov poll taken on behalf of Oman Insurance and Bupa Global found an alarming lack of knowledge on healthy living among many young people.

The poll of 249 children in the UAE aged between 6 and 11 found a quarter of them thought video games or reading was physical exercise.

A similar survey of more than 1,000 parents in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, also conducted by YouGov, found 90 per cent of children had access to mobile devices, on which they spent an average of two and a half hours a day.

Worldwide, the organisation’s latest findings showed an estimated 1.4 billion people were not doing enough exercise to stay healthy – almost a fifth of the population.

The report also found that those living in wealthier nations were more likely to have sedentary jobs requiring little physical activity, and were also more likely to drive.

But researchers said those in poorer countries often needed to walk more often because of a lack of public transport.

“We were designed to move and nowadays, with cars, technology, elevators and escalators, we have removed all activity in our life,” said Mabina Daniel Lengweng, managing partner at Vigour Energy personal coaching in Dubai.

“Exercise is best for preventing many illnesses and disease by creating good blood circulation, building our resistance to infection and helping to combat stress.”

Mr Lengweng said: “In the beginning, the aim is to get the person fit and educate them about a healthy lifestyle. We can then follow up by building muscle to improve their immune system.

“To be successful, we find 80 per cent of any exercise programme is based on the quality of their nutrition and diet.”

Dr Sadawey said: “There are three main kinds of exercise – aerobic, strength training and flexibility work. You should aim to have a good balance of all three, and at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week.”