The FAT Truth: Young Lives At Risk

The popularity of multimedia and easy access to fast food has caused many UAE youngsters to become alarmingly sedentary, leading to Obesity. Statistics noted by the UAE Government programme to eradicate childhood obesity indicate 12 per cent of children in the country are overweight, with 22 per cent of them at risk of obesity. In light of such worrying information, all efforts are being made to raise awareness of the dangers of obesity and promote healthy eating and exercise, now more than ever.

According to Dr. Mandar Bichu, Paediatrician at Dr. Mandar Medical Clinic, Sharjah, an obese child is one between the ages of two and 18 with an excess of body fat as measured by their body mass index (BMI). Girls with more than 32 per cent body fat are considered obese, as are boys with more than 25 per cent body fat.

Dr. Mandar Bichu, practicing Paediatrician in Sharjah, UAE. Author of Right Parenting and founder of major web portal on parenting and child's health 'www.rightparenting.com'

‘The most common causes to this epidemic rise of adolescent obesity is eating too much and exercising too little.’ says Dr. Mandar V. Bichu, also a recently published author of Right Parenting as well as founder of rightparenting.com, a major web portal on parenting and child’s health established in 2007.

‘Children, unlike adults, need extra nutrients and calories to fuel their growth and development. So if they consume the calories needed for daily activities, growth and metabolism, they add kilograms in proportion to their growth. But children who eat more calories than needed, gain weight beyond what’s required to support their growing bodies.’ added Dr. Bichu, ‘Stress levels among teenagers, is yet another factor that escalates the growing concern of obesity among teenagers. With fierce educational competition among students develops incessant dependence over comfort foods.’ explained Dr. Bichu.

The UAE Government programme indicates at least 26 per cent of residents eat at fast food restaurant once a week. In addition, more than 40 per cent of children spend three hours a day in front of the television or on a computer. Warning parents about risks of excessive weight gain in youngsters, Dr. Bichu elaborated how overall health can be affected. “Child obesity complications can cause high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer in addition to psychological problems,” he said.

Media: a contributing factor to epidemic rise of Obesity

So, the burning question here, is media the sole reason to blame? “Media influence plays a strong mediator to teenager’s dietary habits, sometimes not everything they see is reality. Teenagers are prime targets to advertisements that are continuously screened on Television, which I think is one of the powerful mediums today.” said Dr. Bichu.

Hence, what can be done to avoid unhealthy weight gain and promote a healthy lifestyle? “This issue can be addressed most effectively by modifications in the entire family’s diet and lifestyle habits,” says Dr. Bichu.

He recommends starting the day with a healthy breakfast to ensure your teen has high energy levels throughout the day and prevent binge-eating. For the rest of the day, he suggests eating five servings of fruit and vegetables everyday, including portion in each meal served. Teenagers should be encouraged to enjoy at least an hour of physical activity per day, while limiting ‘screen time’ spent in front of the TV, since that promotes overeating,” says Dr. Bichu.

“Limit consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, which include store-bought fruit juices, flavoured or sweetened water and sodas which are falsely endorsed in media. Encourage drinking water and low fat milk instead.”

Youngsters pick Junk food over healthier options when given a choice

He also comments on how teenagers are manipulated by appealing advertisements that are on television, newspaper and internet. “This not only, affects the pattern of nutrition of one regional and ethnic group, but all of them at one time. So great is the strength of media and because of this excessive exposure, the younger generation pick Junk food over healthy food when given a choice.” he says.

When asked, is obesity the only eating orders than a teenager suffers from? Dr. Bichu says, “I have had few anorexic and bulimic cases which are complete opposites of obesity. Obesity is the most common problem among the teenagers. This is because of the latest trend that the teenagers are following- watching television, playing games and surfing net, no physical exercises, eating lots of dairy products and maintaining eating habits.”

Teenagers are multimedia addicts

“Obesity is not an illness, but a lifestyle disease.” says Dr. Bichu. The average citizen can see that the problem of obesity among teens is real by reading newspapers and walking the streets, but neither the experts nor the general public have the solutions to the problem. Teens spend much of their time in front of their computers or watching television programs. The eating habits of teens have also contributed to the growing obesity among teens. Teenagers eat fast food that is more available than when their parents and grandparents were teenagers. Poor nutrition and the lack of activity seem to be the reason for the problem.

As the reasons for the problem of obesity among teens seem to be clear, and many experts have begun to offer solutions. Teenagers should be offered nutritious lunches at schools. The administrators in schools should carefully watch the menus, and the menus should be changed to provide foods that are not fattening. Parents must also be educated about nutrition and encouraged to feed their teenagers nutritious food at home. “Another factor that influences adolescent obesity is that parents have been taking the wrong steps and asking the wrong questions. Parents usually relate ‘health’ equivalent to ‘weight’ which is wrong!” exclaimed Dr. Bichu, Parents are fixated on the ‘perfect’ weight for their child, which is again influenced by media. Mothers concerned on how much my child is eating is wrong again, it’s what they are eating that is important.” explained Dr. Bichu.

Along with ensuring a healthy diet and exercise, Dr. Bichu feels parents should take care not to make their child feel that they have singled out in the family. “Parents should avoid targeting interventions only to their overweight child, since that may lead to a negative self-image and lack of confidence,” he adds. “Talk to your child about the importance of eating well and active being but make it a family affair that will become second nature for everyone. Focus on health rather than weight, and involve your child in making the healthy food choices.”

Programs should be offered to get teenagers away from their computers and television sets. There should be more sports and social activities that promote movement that teenagers enjoy. Dancing and tennis will both burn up calories much more quickly than watching television so these activities should be more readily available for teenagers.

Photo Credits: Megna Kalvani

The Pinoy Way of Life in the Emirates

Among, the ninety two million Filipinos in the Philippines ten percent reside outside the Philippines. As searching for employment, gaining experience and exploring the world being a few of their motives for their migration.

Filipinos constitute approximately 4.3 per cent of the entire UAE population

Since 2007, the Filipino population in the UAE has shrunk by almost 20 per cent, mainly because of the palpable high costs of living in the country, the global economic downturn and higher demand for Filipino workers in other countries. “It's quite disappointing to learn many Filipinos were layed off and that my countrymen here in the UAE are declining. But the costs are just too high that saving has become impossible.” said Raymoind, resident of Dubai.

Filipinos constitute approximately 4.3 per cent of the entire UAE populationLatest figures released by the Philippines Embassy in Abu Dhabi showed there were 279,602 Filipinos in 2007, well below the estimated 350,000 previously. Filipinos constitute approximately 4.3 per cent of the entire UAE population. ‘The reason why I picked UAE over other places, is because it’s the easiest to get here unlike other countries.’ said 36 year old, Mrs. Janet Consunji, who came here in 2006.

Expatriate Filipinos are just like the other sixty per cent expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates. With their hectic working schedules swallowing up their lives and their weekends are spent unwinding and relaxing with family, friends and relatives, life is more or less the same for them all. ‘I have a very tiring job as a Sale assistant, but I need the money as life here is very tough’ said Ms. Nilsa Mae, a Sales assistant to Femina Fashions in Sharjah. ‘I spend my weekends with my family going to the beach or browsing at my favourite mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai’ the 23 year old added.

Richard Mata, an employee in Costa, Academic City

According to Overseas Filipino Workers report (2007), a great majority of the estimated 500 to 700 Filipinos who enter the United Arab Emirates on tourist visas everyday come here to look for work. Filipino workers in the UAE can be found mostly in huge free-trade zones in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. ‘I first came to UAE in 2008, my only motive was to find work and make a living.’ said 26 year old Richard Mata, an employee in Costa, Dubai International Academic City.

The same report also reads that the UAE's economy depends heavily on an army of cheap foreign labour from the Asian sub-continent and the Far East. Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates are primarily migrant Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) employed in low positions in varying fields such as architecture, construction, cargo shipping, design engineering, energy, information technology, marketing, medical, real estate, retail, telecommunications, and tourism sectors or as domestic helpers- jobs that Emiratis often do not want.

The Philippine Department of Labour and Employment also has two Philippine Overseas Labour Offices (POLOs) in the UAE, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. These offices, as well as agreements between the Filipino and UAE governments, have set the monthly minimum salary for OFW's at US$400. But due to the recent hit in recession, many expatriates faced a tough call as they lost their jobs "It's not just Filipinos, all nationalities working in the sector have been affected. Companies are just shedding unnecessary staff in sales and marketing," said Virgie Calvez, labour attaché with the Philippine Overseas Labour Office in Dubai.

Mr. Jerry M. Timario, Construction worker

But, most of the Filipino expats had one common thing to say that they miss their homes, their food and their green environment and they eventually want to go back to Philippines, but for now making a living is first priority to them. “I work all week; I do not get time for leisure during the weekends, just sleep. I miss my family a lot, I haven’t seen them since 2003.” said Mr. Jerry M. Timario, a 34 year old construction worker.

‘...exploring the world’ Ms. Marites Laysa

On the other hand, Ms. Marites Laysa said, “My work as a receptionist takes long hours and there is a lot of adjusting to not only time, but the environment, climate, customs and culture.” She also added that her reason for coming to UAE, was not centralized on finding work but on exploring the world and experiencing a different ambience which she has successfully done since her arrival to UAE in July 2008.

However, life goes on for those still surviving the hardships in the UAE. ‘Filipinos like to see good in everything...like a silver lining’ smiled 53 year old, Emily Kacuna Pabuaya. ‘Even though, there have been many ups and downs there have been good times as well...’she added.

Photo Credits: Megna Kalvani

Preserving Culture in the U.A.E

Art Exhibition

The Arabian Art Centre, Sharjah Heritage Area



Artifacts displayed on the grounds of Sharjah Heritage Area

We all know United Arab Emirates as a modern one, witnessing dramatic changes in the few short years since the state was established, change that has provided them with all the benefits of a modern, developed society. At the same time, however, both Government and the people are determined that their heritage shall be preserved, in line with the late Sheikh Zayed's belief that 'a people that knows not its past can have neither a present nor a future'.

To act as repository of this heritage and a source of information for both visitors and the younger generation who have not experienced a traditional lifestyle, museums and heritage centres have been developed throughout the UAE.‘We preserve our history and culture in museums, through paintings that are so realistic that they almost speak.’ said Najlaa Fikry, an official at Sharjah Museums Department.

‘The Orientalists Collection' displays the works of art in the Sharjah Art Gallery, which were personally collected by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. The paintings represent Romantic views of the Arab countries and other Islamic lands as they were depicted by European artists and travellers in the 18th, 19th and the early 20th centuries.’ explained Najlaa. Additionally, Sharjah was designated as the cultural capital of the Arab world by UNESCO for its commitment to art, culture and preserving its heritage.

Ms.Najlaa Fikry, Official at Sharjah Museums Department

The Culture and Art Authority play an active role in keeping the history and culture alive during this materialistic and digital today, where youngsters seem to forget the very beginning....‘We host a variety of exhibitions, workshops and programmes that are suited for all ages. Our family programmes that are held every week offer hands-on and minds-on fun with bilingual programmes that are designed to educating children and their parents/caregivers on the culture of UAE. We organize workshops especially for children aged six to eleven, as teaching them when they are young is best. The programmes are held on Saturdays suitable for all, to make some time in their busy schedules.’ said Najlaa.

Sharjah Art Museum, established in 1948

UAE is a fine example of how well an indigenous community which survived an adverse environment for thousands of years by observing a strict tribal code could absorb tremendous change of lifestyle producing the best of two worlds within decades. Today, the indigenous values, heritage and culture which were refined by the adoption of Islam over the past millennium or so, continue to thrive notwithstanding the ultra modern look, infrastructure and facilities and the cosmopolitan, moderately liberal lifestyle that especially characterise the nation’s capital, Abu Dhabi.

Scattered throughout the UAE are forts that were once charged with defending a range of elements including an irrigation system, palm groves and trading hubs. Many of the forts also provided residency to the ruling families, while others served as military/police headquarters and prisons. Heritage villages have been established in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah to provide visitors with a three-dimensional experience of life in the pre-developed UAE. The Emirates of Ajman, Sharjah, Al Ain, Umm al-Quwain and Ra’s al-Khaimah have established museums housing exhibits on archaeology, ethnography and other artefacts of historic and cultural significance. While some collections are not extensive and certain destinations are difficult to reach unless on a guided tour, their existence testifies to the growing focus of cultural preservation throughout the UAE.

Despite the Emirates limitations of being a mainly desert environment and a semi-nomadic lifestyle that prevailed up to the 20th Century, UAE has a rich past evidenced by scores of restored mud fortresses across the emirate and remains of an underground irrigation system in Al-Ain oasis, which has been continuously inhabited for more than 4,000 years and is considered as the old cultural centre of the Emirate.

According to the 2003 Convention, Intangible heritage is defined as “practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills- as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith- that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.” The UAE is ripe with such heritage. The seven Emirates are more than the Burj Dubai and Yas Marina. They are a vibrant and diverse federation of seven autonomous states which share an ancient heritage. Emirate’s cultural life is rooted in a long tradition of literary work, horseback riding, falconry, traditional artwork and the cultural exchange brought about by trade routes. The large collaboration of museums provide visitors with a glimpse of the emirate’s cultural life, history and heritage. Today, culture and arts are witnessing a revival in the emirate with many clubs and funds dedicated to their advancement.

According to Emirates News Agency, The UAE has offered $2million to UNESCO and African countries to safeguard the heritage projects. This was announced at the ceremony held by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage at Emirates Palace on 3rd October 2009 marking the conclusion of the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage at UNESCO, in presence of Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura.

Photo credits: Megna Kalvani