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The UAE is making confident and rapid steps to become an international health hub by 2020. But first, it has to address these 5 worrying health facts that you probably did not know about:
1. Scary statistics
The average life expectancy for the typical Emirati male is 76 and 78 for the females. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around a third of UAE’s male population will suffer from a certain type of health disorder, with cardiovascular diseases being the most common. The WHO’s World Health Statistic report for 2015 mentioned that half of the female residents of UAE who are over 18 are obese, while The Health Authority of Abu Dhabi stated that school children in UAE are now 1.8 times more obese than children in the US!
2. A serious obesity problem
The UAE is battling a serious war against Obesity. Almost 70% of the males, and 67% of the females, who reside in the UAE aged 15 years and older, are in the “overweight” category. A 2015 report by the research company McKinsey Global Institute showed that obesity rate in the UAE is double the world average, and is costing the country’s economy DHS22 billion each year.!
3. Vitamin D deficiency despite all that sun!
Despite the constant blanket of sunlight all year long, the residents of UAE suffer from vitamin D deficiency. If that’s not surprising enough, the percentage of the UAE’s residents who suffer from this condition is one of the highest in the world! According to the Third International Conference on Vitamin D Deficiency, over 80% of the country’s population has vitamin D deficiency, with exposure to the sun.
4. Children with cholesterol
We usually associate cholesterol diseases with adults, but due to the poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle, even children today can suffer from cholesterol related diseases. Doctors in UAE are treating obese children who have cholesterol levels normally found in 60 year old men! If not treated, this could lead to more serious diseases such as hypertension and cardiovascular disorders. It is needless to say that both parents and schools need to take extreme measures to provide the children with a healthy and balanced diet to avoid the risk of such illnesses.
5. Dehydration is a big issue
People of the UAE need to drink more water and liquids! According to leading UAE urologists, 3 in 10 people in the country develop kidney stones due to dehydration, while the global average is only 1 in 10! Dehydration is a serious health condition that often goes undetected by the patients who simply forget to drink enough liquids. Drinking at least 8 cups of liquids a day is a must to hydrate the body, especially during the hottest months of the year.
Avoiding many of these diseases and illnesses can become so much easier by adapting a healthy and balanced diet. Al Rawabi wide range of products from the Vitamin D milk to the Multivitamin cocktail Juice and the fresh yoghurts can help you achieve this healthy diet to live a longer and happier life!