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28 March 2024

UAE ladies, take Nancy Ajram’s advice and look after yourselves

Published
By Shuchita Kapur

Miranda Smith, an expat living in the UAE, has her days packed managing two kids, home – and work. Her day starts at 6 in the morning and she steps out by 9am but still doesn’t even have the time to sit down for a quick bite that could pass for a breakfast.

Resultantly, Miranda, feels five years older than her age, is tired by the end of the day, and has joint pains, sudden aches and a bad memory.

Miranda is just one case in point.

You just have to look around and it won’t be difficult to spot a woman putting the needs of her family before her at the cost of her health and well-being.

A new consumer survey conducted by Anlene (a range of dairy products formulated for adults) highlights that three in five UAE women place their family’s health ahead of their own, despite half admitting that their own health is average or poor.

The findings show that women aged 41-50 in the country are the least likely (19 per cent) to exercise daily, compared with 35 per cent of men in the same age-bracket.

“Where is the time?” quipped a mother of two children living in The Springs. “I would love to go around the lake with my friends but there is homework to be done and other assignments that kids get back from school,”she said but at the same time revealing that her husband goes to play tennis being a sports fanatic.

Besides poor exercise, women also neglect their diet. The survey states that less than half (45 per cent) are aware of what the recommended daily calcium intake is.

“As a mother, I understand how having children changes your priorities in life. They become the most important people to you and, therefore, looking after your long-term health can take a back seat. I struggled with this when I had my daughters so I am learning to take time out to remember to eat healthy and try to exercise regularly. By looking after your own health, you are setting a good example to your children as well,” says Nancy Ajram, a popular Arab artist and a bone health advocate.

Only a third of women are exposed to sunlight – a natural source of Vitamin D – for the required 20 minute period a day.

The survey also revealed that more than half of the women surveyed aged 41 to 50 have a serious concern about developing a stoop later in life, which is one of the consequences of deteriorating bone health.

Putting others before self is a wonderful quality but it should not be an automatic habit, say advocates of women’s health.

“All women should be concerned about their bone health and need to start incorporating weight-bearing exercise into their routine, try and get some daily sun exposure and add ingredients high in calcium and vitamin D into their diet,” adds Ajram.