Number of obesity cases in Kuwait rising at alarming rate
Kuwait: The number of obesity cases in Kuwait has been increasing at an alarming rate due to the unhealthy eating habits of the people and lack of exercise, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting health officials.
Obesity, which is known as a ‘slow killer’, has become a major source of concern among the health officials due to the long list of possible diseases it might cause, such as heart problems, thrombosis, diabetes and menstrual-related illnesses for women.
According to Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Services in the Ministry of Health and Chairman of the National Committee for Controlling Obesity Dr Yousef Al-Nisf, the obesity and overweight cases in Kuwait has increased by 80 percent among adults, 44 percent among teenagers, and 15 percent among primary schools students — one of the highest in the world. He underscored the need to maintain normal weight to prevent a number of diseases.
Former Health Minister and Obesity Surgery Consultant Dr Mohammed Al-Jarallah warned on the dangerous repercussions of obesity. He pointed out the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international health institutions have agreed that obesity causes a number of diseases. He said the average lifespan in the US is 80 years but it might decline to 60 years due to obesity, which is now a global concern. He added there are around 15 million obese people in the US.
Al-Jarallah revealed the results of a medical study conducted on 22,000 obese people in Europe have shown that the best treatment for obesity is surgery.
On the other hand, Chairperson of Yarmouk Health Center Dr Huda Al-Duwaisan attributed the rising obesity rate in Kuwait to the social and economic development the country has witnessed over the last 50 years. She believes this development led to lifestyle changes among the people, particularly their food intake and physical activities. She said there are more obese women in the country than men, adding the whole nation must take the necessary steps to prevent obesity. She asked the Ministry of Education to encourage the students to engage in sports and include a subject on healthy eating habits in the curriculum.
Nutrition specialist Dr Laila Agha stressed the importance of controlling calorie intake and the children must engage in sports or any physical activity 30 minutes daily. She also urged the parents to encourage their children to ride bicycles or walk to maintain a healthy body.
ArabTimes
