Every kilo of weight lost will turn to gold

Overweight parents and children in the UAE stand a chance to win gold by losing weight this summer with Dubai’s unique slimming campaign focusing on reducing childhood obesity in the country.

A local family participating in the DM’s weight-loss initiative at Al Safa Park last year. — KT file photo

After giving away almost 17kg of gold worth Dh2.6 million last year, the Dubai Municipality has invited overweight people to participate in the second edition of its “Your Weight in Gold” initiative.

Launched in Ramadan, the campaign had hit headlines across the world for handing out gold coins corresponding to the weight reduced, which totalled 13,275kg.

Titled “Your Child in Gold”, the two-month drive this time encourages parents to focus on getting their overweight children fit by participating as a family. And the rewards for shedding the flab is double if they succeed in making their overweight children lose weight.

Two kilos is the minimum weight to be reduced by all participants to be eligible for rewards.

”This year, we have given priority for families as they will get double rewards than individual participants when they participate with their family members,” Dubai Municipality Director-General Hussain Nasser Lootah said at a Press conference on Tuesday.

“If you participate as an individual and lose weight, you will get one gram of gold per kilo you lose. But if you join as a family and your kid loses at least 2kg, you would get two grams of gold per each kilo of weight lost,” he explained.

We need to protect our generation from the negative effects of technology by encouraging them to have a healthy lifestyle and educating the parents about their role in bringing up a healthy generation,” said Lootah.

Each family is allowed to participate with two of their children below 13 years. The first prize will be given to someone who sheds the most number of kilogrammes and reduces his or her weight drastically in accordance with the terms and conditions.

Participants have to first register their details online on www.thedmgold.com and at designated parks.

Registration will be open from July 15 to 24 — from 9pm to 12am at Al Mamzar jogging track, Al Khawaneej jogging track, Gate No.3, Safa Park, Gate No.2, Zabeel Park, Gate No.3 and Al Barsha Park main entrance. Participants will get SMS on which date and where they have to go to take the final measurement from September 10 to 15.

sajila@khaleejtimes.com