Residents can tackle obesity by changing their social attitudes

Dubai: In order to control the burgeoning number of obese children in the UAE, social attitudes must change first, a senior community doctor said.

"In our society, there is an exaggerated focus on feeding children, regardless of their nutritional requirements," said Dr Mariam Mattar, general manager of Community Development Authority.

She was speaking at the "Fat Truth" (Fighting Child Obesity in UAE) seminar at the Dubai Press Club yesterday, which was organised by the Ministry of Health and Unicef.

"Many of our social attitudes tend to give kids the impression that a fat child is healthier," she said, noting that socio-psychological consequences of obesity has considerable impact on the self-confidence of the child, causing introverted behaviour, excessive shyness and self-seclusion.

She pointed out that a survey showed that 12 per cent of children between the ages of 13 and 15 were obese. The survey was done among 15,790 students in the UAE.

"While schools have taken steps as providing healthy food in canteens, much more needs to be done such as providing physical fitness activities, "said Zaina Habib Lietaert, communications specialist at Unicef, Gulf.

She said the three-month campaign which started in April wil target all "stakeholders" as corporates, schools, families and the media.

"The media have a big role in sensitising the society on the perils of obesity among the tiny ones. It is a mission too important to be left to some organisations and government bodies alone," she said.