Health drive to make people lose weight gains currency
A 2019 to 2020 data on overweight and obesity in the UAE has demonstrated that these conditions, which could lead to debilitating health, can be brought under control
A 2019 to 2020 data on overweight and obesity in the UAE has demonstrated that these conditions, which could lead to debilitating health, can be brought under control.
The data is from the RAK Hospital-arabian Wellness & Lifestyle Management Division, which, has so far collaborated with 60 companies in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) for the health and wellness initiatives of 50,000 multi-ethnic employees between 21 and 60 years old.
The data was made available on the eve of the annual “World Obesity Day” (March 4) as an encouragement as well as a proof that corporate health and wellness initiatives pave the way for success stories, resulting in “increased productivity, improved employee morale, reduced healthcare costs, and reduced absenteeism,” said RAK Hospital executive director Dr. Raza Siddiqui.
In an earlier interview, Canadian Specialist Hospital clinical dietician Ayaa Al Nimer differentiated overweight and obesity. She said that as both would be known by the calculation of one’s body mass index (BMI) in relation to his height and weight, a person is “generally” overweight if his BMI were between 25 and 29.9. A person whose BMI is over 40 has been classified as obese.
On the other hand, the portal of the USAbased volunteer health association National Kidney Foundation enumerates the following as the “serious” health challenges associated with overweight and obesity: diabetes, hypertension, certain types of cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, breathing disease, hjand kidney/renal failure and disease.
On the released RAK Hospital-arabian Wellness & Management Division data of 10,000 employees from 25 companies who went for their annual weight loss programme screening for 2019-2020, Chief Wellness officer Prof. Adrian Kennedy noted that over 62 per cent or 6,200 registered as overweight or obese.
“On the average 25 corporates are covered by our Corporate Wellness Programme every year, accounting for 10,000 employees in which weight loss is one component. Approximately 60 per cent or 6,000 employees are usually overweight.”
For the 2019-2020 annual screening, 6,000 of the 10,000 (60 per cent) are below age 40 and 4,000 ( 40 per cent) are over age 40. Of the 6,200 overweight or obese, contributory factors are the usual sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical exercises. Three thousand and nine hundred of the 10,000 (39 per cent) have cardiac risk due to diabetes, hypertension and poor lifestyle habits. Of the 10,000, 3,400 (34 per cent) normally absented themselves from work due to medical reasons that affected their productivity profiles.
Kennedy said that of the 2019-2020 monitored, 4,000 ( 40 per cent) of the 10,000 managed to lose weight between one and 15 kilogrammes.
He attributed the situation to the group weight loss prescriptions and counseling by a physician, followed through with group lectures on counseling and weight loss by nutritionists three months later, once or twice a year group exercises and physical activity classes by fitness professionals: “Employees are encouraged to exercise daily and manage their diets. We weigh them again at the start of their next annual screening and compare their weight loss/gain over the previous year.
UMM AL EMARAT PARK HOSTS FITNESS SESSIONS: Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi’s favourite green destination, hosted the fitness sessions of Daman Heroes’ FIT FOR FEB campaign that took place throughout the month of February and sought to encourage people to continue improving their health beyond the new year.
In collaboration with Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the campaign saw the participation of 3200 members of the community getting active in free group fitness sessions at Umm Al Emarat Park and online Youtube classes. As an extra incentive to keep people motivated, the FIT FOR FEB campaign launched a month long competition with big prizes including the Park’s newly release Fitness Loyalty Card, 1000AED Amazon vouchers, Jebal Jais Zipline tickets, 1000AED Go Sport vouchers and Abu Dhabi Marine watersports activities.