Healthy living is not a choice but responsibility

The stats are shocking. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions. About one-third of the world’s population is obese. Childhood obesity has increased tenfold in the past four decades. Untreated obesity is responsible for several non-communicable diseases including diabetes, heart and liver diseases, several types of cancer and joint pain. The cost of treating such diseases worldwide will reach $1.2 trillion each year from 2025. Obesity is prevalent not just in developed countries but also in low and middle income nations and among all economic classes. It affects people differently at different ages. The culprits are extra calories — when intake of calories is more than what is expended — sedentary lifestyles, lack of sleep, genetic makeup … the list can be endless. But, enumerating the facts and factors will not take us anywhere. We need to weed out the menace and we have to begin at the roots. Constant exposure to fast foods — notorious for having additives and other elements that lead to obesity — has to be curtailed. Be mindful of what is fed to babies and children. Try to create healthy food habits. Make physical activity part of the family’s culture. For, it’s not just the physical aspect one needs to worry about. Emotional factors, too, can wreak havoc on a person’s well-being.

Dubai, recognising that health is happiness, is on the right path. The taxes on sugary drinks is just one of its initiatives towards this direction. Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid’s ‘30 minute x 30 days’ Dubai Fitness Challenge is yet another. It’s now up to individuals to take responsibility for their health, their well-being. And the onus lies on families to support. For, being obese can drastically reduce lifespan. Remember, losing even five to 10 per cent of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases and make you healthier. Occasions like World Obesity Day are stark reminders of the fact that it’s not just about nuclear wars and global warming that we need to worry about. Our world is unhealthy, and it has to be turned around. Fast.