QATAR-FITNESS CAMPAIGN Qatar Olympic Committee launches fitness programme

Record ID: 347246

  • Title: QATAR-FITNESS CAMPAIGN Qatar Olympic Committee launches fitness programme
  • Date: 28th December 2014
  • Summary: SIGN READING (English): "BLOOD PRESSURE" BLOOD PRESSURE MEASURING DEVICE PEOPLE HAVING PICNICS IN THE PARK BOY KICKING A BALL TWO CHILDREN RUNNING
  • Embargoed: 12th January 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Qatar
  • Country: Qatar
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3ZZOHUIB3BYGI0EL4EQDL5BB8
  • Story Text: Dozens of people took part in a fitness campaign in the Qatari capital Doha this week.
    The "Active Qatar" campaign was organised by the Qatar Olympic Committee.
    On offer were free health check-ups and advice on leading a healthier and more active lifestyle.
    The campaign is part of the Olympic committee's year-long project to promote sports and fitness among Qataris.
    "The campaign aims to raise awareness of the society about the importance of sport. We organise several activities for men, women, children, people with special needs and healthy people, activities for all categories of the society so the whole society practises sport," said Khalid al Qahtani, the deputy media manager of the "Active Qatar" campaign.
    Sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food habits are on the rise in Qatar. Some 73 percent of Qatari men and 70 percent of Qatari women are overweight, according to the World Health Organization's 2012 statistics.
    "The most prevalent is obesity. That's what we see most. Even if people don't have high blood sugar or blood pressure, obesity is prevalent. We try to give guidance to people to maintain their weight and eat healthy," said Asmaa, a dietician at al Ahli hospital.
    The prevalence of diabetes in the country is also on the rise. In 2011, Qatar Diabetes Association estimated the prevalence of diabetes at 20 percent, up from 16.7 percent in 2008.
    Organisers hope the event will also boost interest in sports among Qataris.
    One man at the campaign said such events need to held more often to get Qataris interested in sports.
    "The Arab society doesn't care about sport. People don't have the culture of sport, of how to develop themselves and instil sport habits in their children or in the younger generations. That's why I support initiatives like this. I suggest that these campaign be held across the year and not be restricted to specific times, seasons or occasions, but to be held all year round," said Ahmed Yahya.
    Participants at the campaign received Body Mass Index calculators, pedometers to count their steps and health advice based on their activity level and weight.
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