It is said that a healthy life is a wealthy life. Well. there is lot of worth of this line especially in the modern, fast and urban era. Health Statistics easily shows the present scenario of UAE in terms of health and fitness. Obesity is covering up and so are the overweight related problems. The most shocking part is that UAE is the fifth country in the world which tops the overweight problems. 60% UAE women are either obese or overweight. The irony remains that despite of having abundant indoor and outdoor training facilities, 40% children of the country are obese.
Despite an abundance of evidence extolling the benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle and a healthy diet, many of us are still guilty of preferring to indulge in fast food and sedentary lives. It is far easier to stay on the couch than it is to seek out a fitness coach.
The consequences of this inertia go far beyond physical appearances. Obesity is linked to diabetes – a condition that already affects one in five Emiratis – as well as heart disease and a range of other life-altering conditions. Evidence also suggests that overweight children are more susceptible to bullying and to long-term mental health problems. All of this is not just likely to place stress on the individual, but on this country’s institutions too, most notably government health care facilities and, indeed, on the government’s budget.
To encourage debate about these issues, The National yesterday launched its Healthy Living campaign. The campaign began with the story of Shahzad Ahmed, a once overweight Pakistani-Canadian expatriate who was previously unable to run for more than a few metres, but who is now in the middle of a two-week cycling tour around some of Europe’s most challenging terrain. Mr Ahmed offers a powerful example of someone who has been able to manage his weight – and his story also illustrates perfectly how it is never too late to make a positive change. He did this by taking small steps and by turning them into great strides, which is something that all of us can learn from.
Health is the future and so is the next generation. A fitter generation would lead us to the new glory and UAE must achieve that. The fitness of the children and the women are important for the betterment of the society.
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