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Motivation essential in battle against obesity

Majority of individuals feel that losing weight successfully requires major lifestyle changes though healthcare professionals claim that even moderate adaptations can bring about change, according to a recent research study commissioned by VLCC, a clinic that offers slimming services to both men and women worldwide.

Besides, nearly half of the residents questioned also perceive themselves as being neither overweight nor underweight — in other words, normal.

Health officials on Monday debated the findings of the survey and concluded that the public needs to be educated on what obesity is, effective weight loss practices and how to incorporate them into their everyday life.

“Though we have seen progress in awareness, we still have a long way to go,” said Dr Salah Al Badawi, a public health consultant with the health ministry. “People need motivation to 
lose weight.”

He said the ministry is tackling the problem head on. “Our aim is to reduce obesity by one per cent each year – a total of 10 per cent in 10 years with a focus on children mainly through
 education.”

Over 750 people and 50 healthcare professionals were questioned for the study to highlight perceptions and misconceptions of obesity in the 
region.Of those questioned, 11 per cent ranked themselves a greatly overweight, 23 per cent as slightly overweight, 49 per cent as being neither over weight nor under weight. Only 128 people said they were underweight.

However, 80 per cent of the respondents agreed that an overweight person was considered unhealthy.

Jeff Leach, an evolutionary anthropologist in nutrition said, “We ate our way into the problem and we need to eat our way out.”

“A general consumer thinks that weight gain is directly linked to fat,” he said.

“The issue is even more complex since over the years, food has been processed to give it a longer shelf life, but our bodies’ are still the same. Therefore, the food is digested faster and more of fat is stored.” According to Leach, diversity in eating can help 
curb obesity.

As per the survey, healthcare professionals believe that sedentary lifestyles were the main cause of obesity followed by lack of knowledge as the second main cause.

They also said that among co-related problems, diabetes was most closely linked to obesity, followed by cardiovascular disease, bone and joint disorders as well as reproductive disorders.

“As physicians, we are more concerned about treatment than prevention,” said Dr Abdullah Shehab, Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at UAE University, Al Ain.

Nearly 17 per cent of those interviewed did not have a clear idea on how to lose weight though nearly 50 per cent believed that weight loss should be for aesthetic reasons rather than medical.

“In order to be motivated, you need to set realistic goals,” said Dr Imad Ginawi, Diabetologist and Endocrinologist with Uptodate Medicre Centre.

“It is very difficult to make people lose weight since it is a very complex process,” he said. “But praising a patient can make it easier.”

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE