Dubai: “I would do anything to keep myself active,” Farida Naggar, 17, said. “I play volleyball and football.”
She dances and performs in theatre.
According to her, it is difficult for many people to lead an active lifestyle because they are not interested in staying fit. She said during her school days she took up athletics.
She said during her school days her parents would ask her to focus more one her studies rather than athletics.
She said her friends encourage her to take part in various activities during sports season. Nagar said she feels demotivated sometimes when her friends are not active in healthy activities.
Amro Eldahshoury, an 18-year-old business management student at the American University of Sharjah, said he plays “a lot” of sports.
“I love playing basketball,” he said. “I joined my university’s basketball team and I spend most of my time watching videos on basketball and keeping up with games.”
“I think having an inactive lifestyle is really bad for you,” he said. “It’s unhealthy. You won’t be able to stay fit, and after doing the simplest exercise, you’ll be tired.”
He said his parents, especially his father, encourages him to “stay active and play sports”. He said most of his friends also like basketball and encourage him to improve at it.
Hana Majed, 14, a student in International Community School, said she plays sports and exercises regularly. “It’s a [form of] entertainment and [source of] health for your body,” she said.
“Inactivity can cause depression and heart disease,” she said. Her parents and friends encourage her to be active.
Hana’s sister, Hala, an 18-year-old journalism student at the American University of Sharjah, said she plays sports and exercises regularly. “I go to the gym and play squash,” she said.
Lack of exercise leads to diseases like obesity, she said, adding that her parents are “squash champions” who encourage her to be physically active.
Hala said she wants to compete with her friends in various physical activities.
Ahmad Khalid is an intern at Gulf News.
