The world order is changing; and when affluence arrives, obesity follows like a tidal wave bringing misery, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
Rocketing levels of obesity are common among developing countries with rapidly growing economies such as China and India.
People in affluent countries are targeted with strong marketing messages. There is strong psychology used to link soft drinks and fast food foods with being trendy and cool. People need to be aware of marketing techniques. Restaurants compete by giving us larger and larger portions until we get fat.
According to the world health organization (WHO) 50 percent of people in the Gulf are obese or overweight. And this is rising all the time until being overweight is not unusual; it is almost the norm.
A recent survey of expatriates showed that they gained weight after arrival in Gulf countries: They felt this was due to long working hours, sitting at a desk, and the hot climate.
“We don’t walk or ride bikes; we are surrounded by fast food that is available and cheap. And there aren’t as many opportunities to exercise as everything is oriented around cars,” said an expatriate in Alkhobar. Weight control is more difficult in the Middle East because the climate and culture makes taking outdoor exercise more difficult. Many working mothers say they find it really tough to find time to exercise.
It is a good first step to recognize that it is more difficult to stay in shape in a country where there are fewer opportunities to walk and where the climate is sometimes harsh. But if we allow ourselves to become unhealthy, we would be hurting ourselves.
Put simply: The obesity crisis in the Gulf is due to sedentary lifestyle and over eating so body maintenance is something that needs to be tackled by everyone. And there needs to be a change in eating habits. If you are overweight and have been so for over a year, you need to stop using excuses and start making changes because the buck stops with you. You are responsible for looking after your own body. Many people who know they are overweight would be surprised to learn that they are also obese and can feel really shocked when their doctor tells them so.
It is a good idea to work out your BMI so that you can see how much weight you need to lose.
To work out your BMI:
Divide your weight in kilograms (kg) by your height in meters (m).
Then divide the answer by your height again, to get your BMI.
For example, If you weigh 70kg and you're 1.75m tall:
Divide 70 by 1.75. The answer is 40. Then divide 40 by 1.75. The answer is 22.9. This is your BMI.
Your BMI will place you in one of the following categories:
Those with a BMI below 18.5 are considered underweight.
Those with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 are considered normal weight.
Those with a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 are overweight.
Those with a BMI of 30.0 and above are obese.
People have long held the belief that if you have a medical problem you can go to the doctor for treatment and he will prescribe a pill to take away the problem. But the fact is there is no pill that will completely fix obesity or any other health problem on its own, although slimming supplements can help the process. Patients need to put in some effort too.
The solution to the tidal wave of obesity often begins with a partnership between doctor and patient. Any patient who is obese needs to see their doctor regularly to be weighed and to talk about making changes and that is before health problems arise.
If you have tried and failed and need extra help e-mail me for a fact sheet on how to join my online slimming club.
Ask Alva
I am a working mother, I am 5’2” tall, weigh 74 kilos and have no time for exercise as my husband works long hours too. I do try and pay a little attention to my diet, but I eat snacks because I am tired. I would love to exercise but I have no time.
— Hania
You need to fit exercise into your busy routine. Take the children for a brisk evening walk around the park as it would tone up your legs and get your circulation going. Try to walk at least twice a week. E-mail for a copy of my mini morning workout. Do it every morning, and you will feel brighter all day. Your BMI is 30 so you are classed as obese. I would like to see you lose 10 kilos over the next 6 months. — Alva
Time to Stop Obesity
