UAE | General
New Dubai residents gain up to 12kg during first year
New residents of Dubai gain between 6 and 12 kilograms on average in their first year here, according to a fitness instructor at a local gym.
- By Abbas Al LawatiStaff Reporter
- Published: 23:01 August 14, 2008
- Image Credit:
- New residents of Dubai gain between 6 and 12 kilograms on average in their first year here, according to a fitness instructor at a local gym.
Dubai: New residents of Dubai gain between 6 and 12 kilograms on average in their first year here, according to a fitness instructor at a local gym.
Although extreme cases of gaining up to 15kg in the first year have been observed, "they are rare", says Hammad Khan, a personal trainer at Fitness First.
"On average, someone who has just moved to Dubai gains between 6 to 12kg between the first six months and one year, but people often continue gaining beyond that," he said.
Khan attributes this to a number of factors of the lifestyle that is led in Dubai, most common of them being busy work schedules, "but the hot weather here is also a factor".
"It takes people at least six months to settle down in the city, which is when they gain that weight," he said.
The rapid weight gain often throws people into panic mode, he explained, where they look for perceived quick ways to lose weight.
"Many people start skipping meals, or starve themselves during the day.
"But that often means a heavy and unhealthy meal at the end of the day, which just turns into fat," he said.
Khan said that when asked, most gym members said they had stopped exercising and did so because of busy work schedules or lost interest.
Many of the European residents of Dubai, he said, are not used to exercising indoors, and since exercising outdoors is not convenient in many months of the year, they often stop.
Khan said he has come across a number of people who used to be gym members who would exercise and do sports regularly, until they moved to Dubai.
"One member I spoke to was a regular swimmer, and another would do taekwondo. But they both stopped after moving here," he said.
Many people start skipping meals, or starve themselves during the day. But that often means a heavy and unhealthy meal at the end of the day."
Hammad Khan
Personal Trainer
Fat-burners
"I've only been here eight months and I haven't gained weight. I have lost weight. This is because before I had a desk job. My current job involves moving around and interacting with customers. Therefore, my daily exercise is done within the store. A lot of people come to our shop to buy fat-burners. They think that they can become thin by just taking the tablets. However, we advise them to take the supplements without giving up exercise."
Marina Sa'ad, Egyptian, 23,
Pharmacist
Fruit diet
"My weight has increased by 10kg since I came here five years ago. Because I work at a construction site, I don't feel like working out in the evening after I come home. Furthermore, I think the hot and humid weather is also keeping many residents from exercising. I maintain my diet by eating fruit in the morning, followed by a light sandwich in the afternoon and a full meal at night."
Nazim Ali, Pakistani, 28
Road surveyor
Sendentary
"I try to exercise five days a week. I think many people here are overweight. One reason for this is because they are living a very sedentary lifestyle. The traffic is another reason. People return from their work so late and tired that all they can think of is eating dinner with family and sleeping. People should also reduce their intake of junk food. Furthermore, creating awareness about unhealthy eating habits at schools can even help children become informed eaters."
Simi Anwar, Indian, 36
Restaurateur
Lifestyle
"Since I came here two years ago, I have gained weight and therefore I try to make time to exercise twice a week for two hours. Obesity is a problem here because people have been attracted to fast-food restaurants, which frequently come up with new products to lure customers. Many residents are becoming obese because of an inability to exercise due to their busy lifestyles."
Syed Atif, Canadian, 27
Aeronautical engineer
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