App to display walking tracks is here

dubai — An app that will motivate residents to be more physically active by showing them exercising areas on easy maps has been launched by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap). The FitFind was launched at the Arab Health Conference and Exhibition on Tuesday.

The online platform aims to motivate individuals for practising physical activity via the smart application providing information and maps for easy access to physical activity facilities throughout the UAE. Officials said the idea was to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart diseases by encouraging residents to be more physically active.

The application also sends motivating and awareness messages to users to enhance the community participation in sports practice. Dr Hussein Abdel Rahman Al Rand, assistant undersecretary of health centres and clinics sector, said the app encourages people to adopt healthy lifestyle habits and physical exercise to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable disease risk.

Dr Fadila Mohammed Sharif, director of health education department, said: “The government spends so much on developing walking and cycling tracks but somehow the public are not using them as much since they are not aware of it.

“With this app, a map of all green areas will be shown and also include details where the public can find brisk walking tracks as take the entire family along,” she said.

With this app, a map of all green areas will be shown and also include details where the public can find brisk walking tracks as take the entire family along.” Dr Fadila Mohammed Sharif, director, health education department

The app encourages people to adopt healthy habits and physical exercise to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable disease risk.”

Dr Hussein Abdel Rahman Al Rand, assistant undersecretary, health centres and clinics sector, Mohap

She also said the app tracks the number of steps walked, calories burnt and also gives a picture of what your friends are doing — if they too have joined the app. “This encourages group participation and is a motivation,” she added.