Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 11, 2017: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) held today a smart clinic to discuss how to tackle obesity and get on a healthier track in the New Year.
Information was disseminated via the Authority’s Twitter account and through Periscope.
Obesity is a risk factor for a number of chronic diseases and experts at the smart clinic focussed on the link between childhood obesity and obesity in adulthood.
According to report by the Dubai Health Authority’s Schools and Educational Institutions Unit, 33 per cent of school children from kindergarten to grade 12 across 176 private schools are either overweight or obese. Of these 14 to 16 per cent are obese.
Dr Waffa Ayesh, Director of Clinical Nutrition at the DHA, said: “ This year, we would like to encourage families to adopt healthier lifestyles for the full family, from the youngest to the oldest family member. It is important to note that children who have obesity are prone to be obese adults and they are likely to develop a number of chronic diseases early on preventing them from enjoying a healthy life in their adulthood. Obesity and overweight are main risk factors for a number of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Therefore, our message to parents is to take childhood obesity seriously. The best way to encourage children to eat healthy and exercise is to do it yourself. Children pick up what they see and setting the right example for them is the best thing a parent can do for their health and wellbeing.”
Dr Ayesh said that obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. “They are also more likely to have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes. “
Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as poor self-esteem. In the end, children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and osteoarthritis.
Fighting obesity as a family:
Dr Ayesh recommends reducing all forms of processed foods to the minimum, cutting out all aerated drinks and sugary drinks and opting for water instead. “Ideally, family members should get an annual medical examination at the beginning of the year, this is an ideal situation and they should take their reports to a nutritionist for a detailed plan based on their health conditions. However, general guidelines are eating foods as close to their natural sources, portion control, not eating two hours before sleeping and drinks lots of water all day.”
“ A smart trick is to grocery shop from the outermost aisles which rarely have processed foods. Do not bring junk food and canned foods at home, instead eat fruits, vegetables, raw nuts and other healthier options at snack times. For example, few tablespoons of hummus and cucumber sticks or apple and a nut butter are much better than processed foods like chips and biscuits. Planning, preparing and stocking the fridge is half the battle won.
“Besides food, exercise is very important both go hand-in-hand. Children can be encouraged to take up activities that they enjoy such as swimming or any other sports. Adults should workout at home or outdoors either when the weather is good or they should join a gym. Today the options are countless and all it takes is 45 minutes of your day. That’s better than being stuck with a lifetime of chronic diseases.”
About the Dubai Health Authority:
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the DHA and His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami is the Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA.
The DHA’s aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA’s mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.
In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.
The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff. It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.
Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.
