Introduction
The essay will focus on the plan how to fight the growing childhood obesity epidemic in the United Arab Emirates - UAE. The reasons for the increasing rate of obesity in the world will be presented along with the health problems that obesity causes and ways to prevent the contemporary issue of obesity including the changes needed in the public school systems.
Obesity is a contemporary growing concern and represents a condition where overweight represents a threat to their health. It usually results from over-eating or lack or exercise (Shah, 2010).
Reasons for the increasing rate of obesity in the world
World Health Organization has reported that the obesity has more than doubled since the year 1980. Around 1.9 billion adults were in 2014 overweight and around 42 million of children under the age 5 were obese in 2013. It can be preventable with looking and eradicating the reason for emerges of the obesity. The reasons are mainly in imbalance of consuming calories and the calories expended and the lack of physical activity (World Health Organization, n.d.). Sedentary lifestyle with fast food culture is resulting in the growing trend of obesity in the world. Diabetes has affected many developed countries and nations UAE are no exception since in 2012 the 67% of Emirati men and 72% of Emirati women were overweight, 39.9% of UAE women are obese and the % among men was at 25.6. 75% of marked as overweight believe they were not having any weight problems (Harding, 2012). Reason for the increasing trend of obesity therefor lies in increasing high calorie and cheap food, preparation of food with high quantities of salt, sugar, fat, combined in the sedentary lifestyles, changed transportations and urbanization (Shah, 2010).
The health problems that obesity causes
The health problems which obesity is causing are severe and if the trend continues even greater health risks. The risks of strokes, heart attacks, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are growing. With all mentioned health risks and diseases, there is also little symptoms only discomfort and fatigue among the affected. The lack of awareness is the main problem along with the lifestyle of the population with eating too much junk food and exercise too little (Cleland, 2013a). World Health Organization (n.d.) also defines various health effects the obesity has: cardiovascular diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke), diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders (especially osteoarthritis - a highly disabling degenerative disease of the joints); some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon). This will greatly affect the health care expenses that will increase (Harding, 2012). The number of deaths caused by the heart diseases, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, kidney problems and other non-communicable deceases that are the result of bad dietary are increasing. The obesity is showing in the decreased health of the population and has also global effects on the ecological sustainability and world food security (Saberi, 2012). There are also physical impacts of obesity such as bullying at school, depression, eating disorders, bulimia, anorexia and many others health related issues that could be avoided with the decreasing trends of obesity (Mersch, Perlstein, 2016).
Way to prevent obesity and changes in public school systems that would help reduce obesity
Schools play a critical role in preventing the childhood obesity The problems should be dealt in schools since the sugared-laden carbonated drinks that are offered are causing damage to the liver of students. The physical activities of the population have been reduced, which results also in the growing numbers of the obese children. In school no sugared beverage should be allowed and offered, but cheap water provision or milk. The government should finance the school to do even more on the dietary and food provided in schools, more education and more exercise should be involved in the regular school programs. More fresh than frozen and packaged food should be offered.
The statistics are showing the severe problems that are the result of unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity. There has been made some achievements with various programs with learning about the healthy behaviors and the importance of physical activity. Many schools were participating with pre and post implementation assessments that showed and resulted in significant improvements where within the program the exercise classes were offered with monthly health-eating awareness classes (Cleland, 2013). One way to prevent the obesity is implementing programs to reduce obesity in all schools in the school programs. Promotion of exercise along with healthy diets and dietary is needed.
The main steps schools should undergo are adoption and maintenance of healthy eating and physical activity of students, address the physical activity and nutrition with the help of a School Health Program approach to health and physical education, health services, counseling, healthy school environment, health promotion for employees, and involvement of family and communities. Schools should have a health coordinator with the active health council with the developing plan for improvement. Schools must increase activity opportunity for children and implementation of quality school meals (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004).
References
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2004). Childhood Obesity. Retrieved http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/pdf/roleofschools_obesity.pdf
Cleland, Emily. (2013a). Obesity is a Growing Problem in the UAE, says Health Expert. Retrieved http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/health/obesity-is-a-growing- problem-in-the-uae-says-health-expert
Cleland, Emily. (2013). UAE Children More Obese Than US, With 30% in Abu Dhabi Overweight. Retrieved http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/health/uae-children- more-obese-than-us-with-30-in-abu-dhabi-overweight
Harding, Nick. (2012). The Health Cost of Obesity in the UAE. Retrieved http://gulfnews.com/leisure/health/the-true-cost-of-obesity-in-the-uae-1.1044866
Mersch, John, Perlstein, David. (2016). What are the Risks, Complications, and Long-term Health Effects of Childhood Obesity? Retrieved http://www.medicinenet.com/childhood_obesity/page4.htm
Saberi, Mahmood. (2012). UAE the Fifth Most Obese Country in the World. Retrieved http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/health/uae-the-fifth-most-obese-country-in-the-world- 1.1045224
Shah, Anup. (2010). Obesity. Retrieved http://www.globalissues.org/article/558/obesity
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Obesity and Overweight. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/
