Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi took a giant step towards embracing healthy living on Friday, as more than 21,000 people joined WALK 2015 at Yas Marina Circuit. Participants turned the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix venue into a sea of blue-and-white WALK 2015 T-shirts as they paced around the 5.5-kilometre track.
They also took part in a series of fun, interactive events in the WALK 2015 village, including live family fun shows, fitness sports challenges, healthy cooking stations and music, including DJ UNK and DJ Montay performing their hit single and WALK 2015’s campaign theme, ‘Walk It Out’.
Now in its ninth year, the UAE’s largest and longest-running public health initiative encourages participants to be active and live healthily, and informs them about lifestyle-related health issues, including diabetes.
Statistics calculated on the day showed that WALK 2015 attendees had an average Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25.5, with females averaging 26.8 and males 24.4.
This compares to figures gathered at WALK 2014, which showed an average BMI of 25.8 among walkers, with females 25.1 and males 26.7.
WALK 2015 also delivered younger audiences than 2014, with 54 per cent of attendees aged 16-35, with average BMI being 23 for this age group and 25.1 for those aged between 26-35. Only 15 per cent of WALK 2014 members were between this age group.
Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD), said: “Supporting today’s WALK is just one of the ways we actively play a part in what we advocate. HAAD’s vision is seeing us work towards a healthier Abu Dhabi by adopting the prevention is better than treatment mindset. Today’s record attendance proves that people in the UAE are taking their health seriously and are eagerly seeking ways to get active, be fit and lead by example.”
Al Tareq Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of Yas Marina Circuit, added: “We would like to thank everyone who joined us at WALK 2015 and helped make today such a big success. We would also like to congratulate our partners Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, HAAD and other key supporters for their work in making the ninth edition of WALK the most active yet.
“There is a growing movement towards fitness and healthy living in the UAE and we’re proud to be contributing to that trend by hosting events like this alongside our weekly StartYAS, TrainYAS and GoYAS programmes.”
