Abstract
Although a lot of academic research and clinical studies have been done in some countries like Western Europe and North America on factors leading to overweight, it is only recently that affluent countries such as UAE have started to realise the harmful effects of obesity on health and the economy. As the government takes the help of experts on this issue it has observed that there are several factors leading to children being dangerously overweight, such as genetics, environment and habits. Therefore, it is important to tackle this problem through the joint efforts of the community, the private sector and the heath ministy. Government policy changes alone cannot bring about the required change. Policies should be supported by the creation of increased awareness of health among parents , teachers and children through various channels such as school programmes and media mesages.
References 11
Obesity and Body Mass Index
People all over the world are eating greater quantities of high energy food today than ever before. They also seek a life of comfort and prefer to entertain themselves with gadgets that minimise physical activity.These are the most important of the several other factors that have led to overweight and obesity. Obesity is being dangerously overweight due to the accumulation of fat in the body. This problem among children can lead to harmful health conditions in the long term.
Studies on BMI levels in UAE, particularly among children are found to be higher than expected. BMI or Body Mass index is a number that is calculated by dividing a person’s height by his weight. Based on this calculation, an individual may be classifed into categories such as under weight, overweight, ideal weight or obese. In an article submitted to American Journal of Human Biology, by F. Al-Haddad, Y. Al-Nuaiami, B.B. Little, and M. Thabit, the above mentioned researchers explain their findings on
the prevalence of obesity among schoolchildren in the United Arab Emirates, using the body mass index (BMI) as the indicator. The sample included 1,787 males and 2,288 females 6–16 years. Physicians and trained nurses measured heightand weight, and the BMI (kg/m2) was calculated. The 50th centile of the BMI was not different from that for the US. Similarly, the height and weight of UAE children approximate the US reference data.
Another study by Al-Shams and Reem Saeed from the University of Maryland describes obesity as an epidemic. The data collected by them from ten schools sum up that 14% boys and 13.6% girls were obese (p.3 ).
Need for Strategic Planning
This poses a problem for which a solution can be arrived not just by formulating a government policy, but also by creating an awareness of the same among children and their parents.This is not a simple task and requires strategic planning and systematic creation of awareness followed by implementation of certain policies with the full co-operation of all those involved, such as parents, children, schools and the industry.
Life Style Changes in the UAE in the Last Century
Ever since oil was discovered in the middle east in the first half of the twentieth century, there has been a transformation of life styles in UAE. Parents ply their children with very sugary fatty food and fulfill the children’s desire for such tasty treats.It is a matter of pride for some ignorant people that children consume large quantities of such nutrition dense food. This attitude has made huge quantities of rich food and sugary soft drinks a part of the daily lives of families today. The result is revealed in the data collected by a study on Eastern Mediterranean nations and a report of this study by Musaiger reveals that
This global average reflects a wide range of prevalence level. It was estimated that about 23.5 million of school children age were overweight or obese in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during 1992–2001, and the proportion of school children is almost doubled in 2010, to 41.7 million. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the EMR countries is the second in the world after the Americans and exceeds European countries.(p.2)
As per the polls from a debating website, sixty three percent of the respondents believe that the availability of technology is one of the reasons people are obese today.Their arguments are as follows. For many children from the early half of the twentieth century, transport was a luxury. Kids walked to places and rides were a rare treat. They walked not only to school, but had to go out to play and meet friends, shop and have entertainment. Today children travel everywhere by bus or by cars. They meet their friends on social media websites and chat with them on their phones. There is no need for today’s child to walk. Infact, it is unsafe for him to walk in the city roads, when the traffic is heavy.
Just a few decades ago, people cooked simple grains and ate fruits, organic meat and vegetables. Today they eat factory made processed food such as fried meat, vegetables and fat laden breads. This is as convenient for the chid to swallow as it is for a high income group parent to purchase and satisfy his child. Technological advancement in the food processing industry has introduced ready made western style food into our lives. On top of this, children play video games, which keep them glued to the electronic screen and the hours of play have fallen drastically. The child is therefore very inactive and tends to put on weight. How is it possible to take the things a child loves the most away from him? It is a challenge to convince parents and children that tasty fast food and engrossing video games are harming the child’s health and putting him or her at risk of developing high blood, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Perception of Obesity by Children, Parents and Teachers
Kelly Scott from Columbia University has done a survey on the perception of obesity by students, parents and teachers and warns that 30% of children in UAE in the 6-16 age group are obese. She lists out the following consequences of obesity
Psychosocial Risks
Systematic social discrimination
Low self-esteem
Hinders academic and social functioning
Cardiovascular Disease
RisksHigh cholesterol levels
High blood pressure
Abnormal glucose tolerance
Additional Health RisksAsthma
Hepatic steatosis
Sleep apnea
Type 2 diabetes
Kidney failure (p.11)
Factors Causing Obesity
Experts such as Kelly Scott and Abdulrahman O. Musaiger point out to several factors causing obesity . These factors may be hereditary, environmental or habitual.Older children are more likely to be obese than the younger ones. Malik M, Bakir A. from theDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry & Metabolism, Royal Victoria Infirmary, says that girls rather than boys are likely to be obese and urban rather than rural children are prone to suffer from weight issues. Bottle feeding instead of breast feeding has led to increase in the weight of preschool kids. A busy life style and habits such as snacking and missing breakfast. Some studies have shown that missing breakfast can lead to snacking and eating a heavy lunch, which can result in obesity. . Parents and children eat out more than before. Families sit together in front of the televison and eat their main meals. As these activities have been practised under parental supervision, it is difficult for the adult to help the child chang e his or her habit s. There is also a need for role models who can motivate children to improve their fitness levels.The study on the eating habits of children by Musaiger reports
In the UAE, it was reported that 28% of boys aged 6-7 years skipped their breakfast compared to 37% of girls at same agree.(80)
It is not possible for the goverment or the medical authorities to control the eating habits. It is the parents and possibly the teachers who should realise the importance of a proper breakfast and monitor the children’s habits. This habit also indicates a stressful life style, which is another factor that is associated with weight gain.
Joint Efforts to Tackle the Problem
It is therefore essential, that joint efforts by the government, health authorities, schools, parents and the children themselves be made in order to tackle this problem. Schools should encourage children to participate in field sports. As the article by experts in the American Journal of Human Biology suggest,
Preventive interventions during preadult years may ameliorate some of the morbidity consequences of life-long overweight and obesity, possibly preventing associated mortality. (3)
This intervention should be the joint effort of the public as well as the private sector.
Safia Fathima, in her ArabHealth Blog, speaks of such a combined effort made by the Arab Health Congress.The focus of the Arab Health Congress this year is concentrated around the health impacts of obesity and related conditions, with researchers, health professionals and dministrators debating about arriving on the best approach to re-establish a healthy UAE.(1)
The ministry of health in UAE and the UNICEF jointly focussed on the school in order to make children and parents aware of the reality of imminent danger,by conducting a three month awareness programme in 2009. First of all this campaign tried to show parents and children what healthy weight was. There is a perception that a chubby child is a healthy child. On the contrary this very child may suffer from health problems . The design of materials distributed during the three month health awareness program was such that it did not offend parents and children and had culturally appropriate content. Many private companies joined hands with t he government to show parents and ehildren how to choose healthy foods and include exercise as part of their daily lives. Mass media partnership played a role in making an impact on the public. Television, radio, magazine articles,comics, websites, leaflets and books were some of the media that carried tips to the public on how they could adapt themselves to a healthier life style.
A two day conference was organized at Abu Dhabi UAE in 2011 to combat the health and economic impact that obesity could have on children and adoloscents. In his welcome address, Dr. Azhar Ali, Chairman of the seminar spoke of the "whole system strategic approach” (1) which took into account various viewpoints; including that of the kids and their parents, peadiatrists, psychologists and experts from the United Kingdom, as well as international bodies such as the UNICEF. Creating an awareness and early intervention were discussed as important steps towards tackling the issue.A macro approach, which required studying the whole population and a micro approach, which required analysing the individual's BMI in order to prepare a personal plan for each child, were both analysed in detail. A few cases were found to require drastic measures such as performing surgery on children. This shows how some of the kids are in grave danger, that doctors should think of surgery. The low awareness among the general population is clear, as strategies were discussed on how to educate parents on this sensitive issue of obesity among kids. ,
In conclusion, it is a multi level approach that includes educating the members of the community, taking the help of schools in introducing activity, partnering with private companies, and promoting role models for children to emulate, that can make any government policy a success. Particularly an issue such as child obesity, that has socio- psychological impact along with serious health effects has to be dealt with seriously but with utmost sensitivity.
References
- Al-Haddad, F., Al-Nuaimi, Y., Little, B. B. and Thabit, M. (2000). Prevalence of obesity among school children in the United Arab Emirates. American Journal of Human
Biology (12), 498-502.
- Ali, M. (2013). UAE launches initiatives to fight obesity. Retrieved March 15,
2013, from http://al-shorfa.com/en_GB/articles/meii/features/2013/01/23/feature-03
- Azhar, A. (2011). Childhood and adolescent obesity: A whole-system, strategic approach. Abu Dhabi:Hotel Inter-Continental.
- Bin Zaal, A. A., Musaiger, A. O. and Sauza, R. D. (2009). Dietary habits associated with Malik, M. and Bakir, A. (2007). Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in the United Arab Emirates. Obesity Reviews (8.1), 15-20.
- Scott, K. (2013). Teachers, parents and students perception of childhood obesity in the Middle East. Columbia University. Retrieved from http://www.dsg.ae/Portals/0/perceptions_of_Childhood_Obesity_in_the_Middle_East.pdf
- UNICEF. (2012, February). The fat truth: A partnership to raise awareness about childhood Obesity in the United Arab Emirates. UNICEF. Retrieved from
http://www.unicef.org/partners/Partnership_profile_2012_The_Fat_Truth_V2_approv
ed.pdf
- Childhood obesity: Much more than a uae government agenda. (2013). Retrieved March 15, 2013, from http://blog.arabhealthonline.com/childhood-obesity-much-more-than-a-uae-government-agenda/
- Is technology responsible for the increasing obesity rates? (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2013, from http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-technology-responsible-for-the-increasing-obesity-rates
10. Wahsh, M. (2012). UNICEF’s national awareness campaign on childhood obesity in the
UAE. United Arab Emirates:UNICEF GAO.
