Qataris on a fast track to serious health problems

Doha: With the increasing popularity of fast food outlets among Qatari and expatriate residents, health officials have expressed concern about the long-term impact of junk food consumption on public health.

Since the first fast food outlet opened in 1995, at least 27 international fast food chains have set up hundreds of eateries across Qatar, changing the population's eating habits for good.

Traditional fish dishes or the wheat-and-meat haris, have been replaced by hamburgers and French fries. In addition to Western and Eastern fast food chains offering high-calory dishes, everyday small eateries have also mushroomed to meet the growing demand for cheap foodstuff by low income customers.

Hygiene

Poor hygiene, storage and cooking standards at some of these cafeterias have added even more risks to the consumption of junk food.

The result is catastrophic, experts have warned, with diabetes spreading like wildfire among adults and children in Qatar.

"Obesity is the major risk factor leading to diabetes and the modern fast food culture is an important factor behind the increasing number of overweight children and adults all over the world.

"Unfortunately, governments and policy makers do not take the issue with the seriousness it deserves," said Samad Shar'a, honorary president of the International Diabetes Federation, during a recent visit to Doha.

Shar'a called for a total ban of junk food at least in school cafeterias, to protect youngsters from diabetes, a life-long condition that affects many in the Gulf. According to the World Health Organisation the prevalence of diabetes is 15 to 20 per cent in the Gulf region, against 8 to 11 per cent in South East Asian countries.

"Burgers, fries, soft drinks and pastries typical of some Western menus are the real enemies. But also some Eastern dishes at Eastern fast food chains, which resemble traditional Arabic cuisine but are fatter and of a dubious quality, should be avoided," said a dietician at the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).

Recently Dr Amal Adam Mustafa, coordinator at the Qatar Diabetes Society, said it was regretful that an increasing number of local children are suffering from obesity and diabetes. Many of them, she said, are having their daily meals at eateries and fast food outlets rather than at home. Dr Amal said she visited a child at a local school who was eating at fast food outlets one day out of three.

"If this trend is not checked the consequences may be very serious in the medium term," she said.

In 2006, experts put the number of Qataris suffering from diabetes at 17 per cent of the population, compared to 20 per cent in the UAE and 25 per cent in Saudi Arabia.

The latest data provided by the Hamad Medical Corporation showed that in 2005 an average of 500 diabetics were visiting the HMC every month.

Latest figures from the World Health Organisation suggest that by 2030, 42.6 million people in the Middle East will suffer from the debilitating disease.