From Your Health Journal…..”I have mentioned here before that the web site Gulf News has some amazing health articles, and I found one today that supports something I have written about recently. I have expressed my displeasure with the media labeling the United States as the ‘fat capital’ of the world. Yes, I know there is a problem here, but my contention is that it is a worldwide problem, not just the US. So, I posted articles from various countries which state concern over obesity in their respected countries – such as England, Canada, Mexico, China, Australia, and a bunch of other countries. Now, in the UAE, there is also concern about Diabesity. Some of you may be curious as to what Diabesity is?

Simply put: Diabetes + Obesity = Diabesity

Among Emirati and expatriate schoolchildren, the 2011 figures from the UAE Ministry of Health (MOH) suggest that 15.5 per cent are obese, 39.2 per cent are overweight and 21 per cent consume fast food three times or more a day. Please visit the Gulf News web site (link provided below) to read the complete article. It is well written and informative.”

From the article…..

Nationwide survey to establish the prevalence of obesity and diabetes under proposal

Obesity’s close and dangerous relationship with diabetes was the focus on day two of the 2nd American Society for Nutrition Middle East Congress, which concludes on Friday.

A nationwide survey to establish the prevalence of obesity and diabetes is under proposal, said senior health officials.

The three-day congress shed light on ‘Diabesity’, a portmanteau word to describe the epidemic of diabetes and obesity occurring together.

In the UAE, the ‘Diabesity’ trend needs to be stopped, urged health officials. Available 2012 figures place the UAE seventh on the Global Fat Scale among 177 countries, calculated using UN data on population size and estimates of global weight from the World Health Organisation (Who). 
The WHO also estimates that about 20 per cent of the UAE adult population is overweight or obese.

Among Emirati and expatriate schoolchildren, the 2011 figures from the UAE Ministry of Health (MOH) suggest that 15.5 per cent are obese, 39.2 per cent are overweight and 21 per cent consume fast food three times or more a day.

Statistics by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) peg the percentage of diabetic UAE residents — Emiratis and expatriates, at more than 20 per cent with another 18 at high risk.

Speaking to Gulf News, Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri, Chair at the Department of Nutrition and Health at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and Head of WHO Collaborating Centre in Nutrition, said: “We are still working with old figures. We have proposed a nationwide survey along with the UAE Ministry of Health (MOH), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and the WHO to collect baseline data in areas like non-communicable diseases such as obesity and diabetes as well as risk factors like cholesterol and hypertension so we can tailor our programmes accordingly.”

To read the full article…..Click here