Obesity awareness camp begins tomorrow

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

RAS AL KHAIMAH: To help curb the rising obesity epidemic that has hit many UAE residents in recent times in both adults and children, the RAK Hospital has organised a complimentary obesity awareness camp at their premises.  The week-long camp will begin on Sunday and continue till Thursday.

The camp is open to all UAE residents (on first-come, first-serve basis),who will be eligible to avail complimentary services including random blood glucose test, thyroid test (TSH) if required, in addition to a free consultation with a specialist and a complete diet and exercise guide.

According to a news report, up to 40 percent of children in the UAE are overweight, while a recent study further revealed that nearly 70 percent of young Emirati men are obese. Such alarming statistics have created an urgent need to repeatedly highlight this health issue which is also a precursor for other conditions such cardiac issues and diabetes.

Commenting on the camp, Dr Raza Siddiqui, CEO of Arabian Healthcare Group and Executive Director at RAK Hospital, said, “Obesity is a growing critical issue that is a prime factor of deaths globally. I think the society is aware of the ill effects of obesity but still tend to take it lightly unless it becomes a threat.  Everyone has the right to lead a healthy life in a world where right choices are easy to make. Unfortunately, due to our urban lifestyle, it’s often hard to consume a healthy diet and enjoy an active lifestyle. For many people, this translates to obesity and ill health.”

“Hence such obesity awareness camps are a steppingstone to encourage people to come forward and test the waters personally, thereby eventually helping them to start leading a healthy lifestyle from today,” Dr Siddiqui further added.

The obesity awareness camp will be led by the multifaceted faculty of experts at RAK Hospital who will not only educate attendees about the multiple ways to tackle obesity at an early stage but also help them to recognize the prime symptoms before they lead to something serious.