Dubai on the road to healthy living

A better awareness and an increase in exercise related activity are among the factors contributing to citizens adopting to a better lifestyle within Dubai, according to findings at the end of the 3rd Dubai International Physical Activity Forum that concluded at the InterContinental Hotel Festival City earlier this week.

As per the latest figures released by organisers Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the involvement of Dubai residents in some sort of physical activity is up by Six per cent from the peg of 36 per cent laid down in 2011-2012.

“These figures only means that we have been doing something right over a period of time,” said Dr. Ahmed Al Sharif, Secretary-General, Dubai Sports Council during his opening lecture on 'Promoting Physical Activity: The Challenge of Healthy Lifestyles in Modern, high-tech cities'.

“One of our primary goals is to motivate and move the residents of Dubai in achieving a healthy lifestyle. Over a period of time we have implemented several projects to achieve this goal. But by far, our 'Dubai Pulse' Programme has gone a long way is reaching out to people and making them aware of the two most basic ills that plague any developing society – diabetes and obesity,” he added.

Dr Ahmed further noted that the success, though still showing signs of further growth, could be achieved only because of the close cooperation and coordination between the DSC and the various government, semi-government and private sector companies.

The latest figures released by the DSC are based on a study jointly conducted by the council and the Dubai Statistics Centre, and have been submitted as baseline data to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to WHO estimates, physical inactivity is estimated to be the main cause for approximately 21–25 per cent of breast and colon cancers, 27 per cent of diabetes and approximately 30 per cent of ischaemic or reduced blood supply to the heart.

With this in mind, Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Director of Social Activities Affairs at the DSC, has pursued a vigorous health awareness programme during the past few months in an attempt to make physical activity a part of social lifestyle among its residents.

“We have had substantial success in raising the awareness in making physical activity a part of our living among the people of Dubai. But we still have a lot more to do as we seek to reach 45 per cent by 2015,” Nasser said.

Last year, the DSC launched a map containing sporting venues all over the emirate aimed at providing the closest destination to its residents. The map also promoted Dubai’s 500 odd public and private sporting facilities so that everyone got an equal opportunity to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

“Once we have infrastructure and accessibility in place, our growth level in physical activity will reach a global average of one to two per cent increase per year,” Nasser Al Rahma assured.

Prof. Fiona Bull, Chair of the Global Advocacy for Physical Activity Council (GAPA), lauded Dubai for the way the city has found solutions to suit its culture, climate and geography and that too within a short period of time.

“Provision of sporting and recreation facilities is as important as access and proximity. Dubai has done well in this regard; however it has a long way to go to promote active living in safe and sustainable environments,” Prof. Bull noted.

Dr Faten Bin Abdul Aziz, Regional Adviser for Health Promotion and Education at the regional office for WHO, noted that increasing the level of fitness depends on the government’s commitment and policies in the sector.

“The promotion of physical activity requires collaboration of various sectors and involvement of communities. Physical activity necessarily needs to include any form of exercise and activity that will increase mobility like walking or cycling and we need to raise the awareness and provide infrastructure,” she said.

Dr Faten added that Dubai has gone a long way in reversing the trends in adult and children obesity and diabetes by increasing physical activity.
 

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