Seven out of 10 adults in Bahrain are either overweight or obese, a health expert has warned.

Health promotion director Dr Amal Al Jowder warned the rate would increase if people did not start adopting a healthy lifestyle, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

She was speaking to the GDN during the fifth annual Health and Wellness Expo, which opened yesterday under the patronage of Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Sanabis.

“We are trying to emphasise the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle in this edition of the expo,” she said.

“Obesity is a big problem in Bahrain and the entire world and it is related to chronic non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart diseases and cancer, which are the major reasons of death and morbidity.

“The last national survey for overweight and obesity showed that more than 70 per cent of adults in Bahrain are either overweight or obese, which counts for seven out of 10 people in Bahrain.

“One of the main objectives of the World Health Organisation for 2025 is to prevent obesity rates from rising, this means that it has become a challenge to decrease the rate considering the modern lifestyle.

“People use vehicles to move and spend their day sitting in front of the TV eating junk food.

“The key solution for obesity is to decrease food intake, search for health substitutes and exercise.

“Changing lifestyle is always difficult and people always find an excuse that prevents them from adopting a healthy lifestyle by either complaining about their work routine or weather.

“German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer once summed it all when he said that health is not everything, but everything is nothing without health.

“The Health Promotion Directorate is trying to bring this message through in this expo by providing people with nutrition tips and ways to start a healthy lifestyle.

“We also have entertainment programme for students visiting us from schools that can deliver this message to them in a simple way.”

Various hospitals and medical service providers are participating in the three-day event to brief visitors on their products and services.

Fitness tips are also being shared by Fitness First, with the aim of teaching people simple exercises that they can start their day with.

Among the participants is Bahrain Specialist Hospital, which is providing medical check-ups and giving people important tips to lose weight.

“We are offering free consultation and medical check-ups for visitors to spread awareness of the importance of having a healthy lifestyle,” said hospital development and marketing manager Nasser Al Hashimi.

“There is also a nutritionist for people who need tips to lose weight or need a weight loss programme.

“We are trying to communicate with everyone taking part in the expo, especially people who work for long hours a day, and help to maintain a healthy body.”

The event ends tomorrow and is open from 10am to 7pm. - TradeArabia News Service