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Number of local diabetes cases projected to grow
The number of diabetics in the Kingdom is projected to grow 283 percent by 2030 due to changes in lifestyle and fatty diets.
At a news briefing in Riyadh, Newcastle University professor Philip David Home said diabetes and cardiovascular diseases could claim more victims unless precautionary measures were taken.
“For this reason it is necessary for Saudi nationals to be more careful about their lifestyles, especially as it pertains to the food that is readily available here and which they can well afford,” the British expert cautioned.
He added that diabetes and heart disease were the two main causes of death in the Kingdom, which has the second highest incidence of diabetes in the GCC after the UAE.
Asked about preventive measures, he said regular exercise, wholesome dietary habits and a healthy lifestyle were some of the best ways to protect people from type 2 diabetes, the most common form, which also causes many other medical complications.
On his part, Ayed Al-Qahtani, professor and consultant laparoscopic surgery at King Saud University, said obesity is responsible for some 20,000 deaths per year, requiring surgical interventions in acute cases to reduce mortality. He added that some 3 million Saudi children suffer from obesity, affecting 36 percent of the population overall.
According to Al-Qahtani, 80 percent of Saudis remain overweight in their advanced age, making them vulnerable to dreadful diseases. The incidence of obesity among Saudis exceeds 70 percent, especially among children and the youth, who comprise at least 50 percent of the population.
As a result, Saudi Arabia spends more than SR19 billion annually on health care.
Al-Qahtani attributed the problem to the sedentary lifestyle as well as the consumption of fast food, sweets and a high-calorie diet, which is deficient in vegetables and fruits. The local environment was also partly to blame for the situation.
Expatriates are also affected by the same problem, according to the source. Doctors advise their patients to go for a daily walk for at least 20 to 40 minutes. Other tips for healthy living include distant parking of cars and stair climbing, requiring exertion in both cases.
However, the general comment is that a walk is inhibited by climatic and cultural factors. Due to extreme temperatures, outdoor exercise cannot be maintained throughout the year. Also, harassment by some young Saudis who pass indecent remarks to women going out for a walk compel them to stay indoors.
Badr Amin, a 28-year-old Saudi and a member of a fitness club, blames the situation on the rigid traditions, which prevent free movement of people. “We don’t have any place to go. We are not even allowed to visit parks,” he observed.
Thanks to the several gyms in the capital, maintaining a physical fitness regime is now much easier than before. “I was suffering from obesity four years ago, but after joining a fitness club I feel very healthy and active,” Amin said.
In a previous interview, Abdul Muhsin Al-Haqbani, president of a fitness club, said that the sport sector had made a significant progress recently and delivered handsome returns on the capital invested in this sector.
He attributed the trend to the growing awareness on health and the need for regular exercise among the youth. Al-Haqbani added that the emerging trend had also changed the traditional concept of a health club into a world-class integrated sport facility in order to become profitable for a company.
The communications and transportation technology has restricted the movement of many of us, especially that of the youth. Gyms can solve these problems, Al-Haqbani pointed out.
Faleh Manie, another Saudi, told Arab News while walking with his children along King Fahd Medical City that he preferred walking in the afternoon because of the health benefits. “As you can see, this place is very quiet, clean and beautiful. Riyadh municipality has established many places like this, where families can do exercise free of charge,” he observed.
Expatriates also go for physical fitness by playing tennis, basketball, volleyball and cricket. They hold tournaments organized by community leaders under the sponsorship of various companies. Allan Robert, a 52-year-old Filipino engineer, has been playing tennis since he arrived here in 2005. “I had been diabetic and with a high blood pressure for more than 10 years. However, everything became normal after I started playing tennis,” Faisal said, adding that his doctor even reduced his intake of tablets.
The number of diabetics in the Kingdom is projected to grow 283 percent by 2030 due to changes in lifestyle and fatty diets.
At a news briefing in Riyadh, Newcastle University professor Philip David Home said diabetes and cardiovascular diseases could claim more victims unless precautionary measures were taken.
“For this reason it is necessary for Saudi nationals to be more careful about their lifestyles, especially as it pertains to the food that is readily available here and which they can well afford,” the British expert cautioned.
He added that diabetes and heart disease were the two main causes of death in the Kingdom, which has the second highest incidence of diabetes in the GCC after the UAE.
Asked about preventive measures, he said regular exercise, wholesome dietary habits and a healthy lifestyle were some of the best ways to protect people from type 2 diabetes, the most common form, which also causes many other medical complications.
On his part, Ayed Al-Qahtani, professor and consultant laparoscopic surgery at King Saud University, said obesity is responsible for some 20,000 deaths per year, requiring surgical interventions in acute cases to reduce mortality. He added that some 3 million Saudi children suffer from obesity, affecting 36 percent of the population overall.
According to Al-Qahtani, 80 percent of Saudis remain overweight in their advanced age, making them vulnerable to dreadful diseases. The incidence of obesity among Saudis exceeds 70 percent, especially among children and the youth, who comprise at least 50 percent of the population.
As a result, Saudi Arabia spends more than SR19 billion annually on health care.
Al-Qahtani attributed the problem to the sedentary lifestyle as well as the consumption of fast food, sweets and a high-calorie diet, which is deficient in vegetables and fruits. The local environment was also partly to blame for the situation.
Expatriates are also affected by the same problem, according to the source. Doctors advise their patients to go for a daily walk for at least 20 to 40 minutes. Other tips for healthy living include distant parking of cars and stair climbing, requiring exertion in both cases.
However, the general comment is that a walk is inhibited by climatic and cultural factors. Due to extreme temperatures, outdoor exercise cannot be maintained throughout the year. Also, harassment by some young Saudis who pass indecent remarks to women going out for a walk compel them to stay indoors.
Badr Amin, a 28-year-old Saudi and a member of a fitness club, blames the situation on the rigid traditions, which prevent free movement of people. “We don’t have any place to go. We are not even allowed to visit parks,” he observed.
Thanks to the several gyms in the capital, maintaining a physical fitness regime is now much easier than before. “I was suffering from obesity four years ago, but after joining a fitness club I feel very healthy and active,” Amin said.
In a previous interview, Abdul Muhsin Al-Haqbani, president of a fitness club, said that the sport sector had made a significant progress recently and delivered handsome returns on the capital invested in this sector.
He attributed the trend to the growing awareness on health and the need for regular exercise among the youth. Al-Haqbani added that the emerging trend had also changed the traditional concept of a health club into a world-class integrated sport facility in order to become profitable for a company.
The communications and transportation technology has restricted the movement of many of us, especially that of the youth. Gyms can solve these problems, Al-Haqbani pointed out.
Faleh Manie, another Saudi, told Arab News while walking with his children along King Fahd Medical City that he preferred walking in the afternoon because of the health benefits. “As you can see, this place is very quiet, clean and beautiful. Riyadh municipality has established many places like this, where families can do exercise free of charge,” he observed.
Expatriates also go for physical fitness by playing tennis, basketball, volleyball and cricket. They hold tournaments organized by community leaders under the sponsorship of various companies. Allan Robert, a 52-year-old Filipino engineer, has been playing tennis since he arrived here in 2005. “I had been diabetic and with a high blood pressure for more than 10 years. However, everything became normal after I started playing tennis,” Faisal said, adding that his doctor even reduced his intake of tablets.
