Enhancing Efforts Against Childhood Overweight Issues in the UAE Through Nationwide Strategies
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), health authorities are taking a comprehensive approach to combat childhood obesity, backed by collaborative efforts with international organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO).
The UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has signed an agreement with Novo Nordisk Pharma Gulf to develop a national scientific guide for obesity management and weight control. This guide is expected to provide a solid foundation for tackling the issue, particularly among children, who are a top priority.
MoHAP, in partnership with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, has hosted two specialized workshops: "Health-Promoting Schools" and "Essentials of Effective Health Communication for Managing Childhood Obesity." These workshops, part of the "Comprehensive School Health" project, aim to integrate health education into school environments.
The project also includes the implementation of integrated health promotion programs in schools. These programs encourage physical activity from an early age, improve body composition, and boost exercise motivation and physical fitness among children. They involve training workshops and continuous monitoring to build exercise self-efficacy and self-esteem in overweight and obese children.
The UAE's educational authorities have also emphasised school nutrition guidelines, aiming to improve children's dietary habits. These initiatives are part of the nation's broader efforts to promote healthy nutrition environments in schools.
Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Public Health Sector at MoHAP, has emphasised tackling obesity as a top priority. The UAE's commitment to building a healthier future is reinforced through these ongoing efforts.
MoHAP is also planning to continue rolling out public awareness campaigns and community initiatives. The upcoming National Health and Nutrition Survey will provide critical data on obesity rates, which will help shape future health policies in the UAE.
Moreover, MoHAP has taken steps to ensure comprehensive prenatal and maternal care. These efforts, combined with the ongoing initiatives, reflect the UAE's holistic approach to promoting long-term well-being and raising awareness about obesity's societal impact.
The UAE's 2024 strategic approach leverages school-based programs coupled with family involvement, research supervision, and nutritional guideline enforcement as essential pillars in tackling childhood obesity nationally. Training workshops are integrated into these programs to ensure capacity building among school staff and families, supporting sustainable implementation of obesity prevention initiatives. This approach represents a regional model for transforming scientific research into community health welfare.
- The UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and Novo Nordisk Pharma Gulf will collaborate to develop a national scientific guide for obesity management, which emphasizes the future health of the nation's children.
- Integrating health education into school environments is a key component of the UAE's Comprehensive School Health project, which aims to promote a healthier environment and encourage fitness and exercise among children.
- The nation's educational authorities have highlighted the importance of adhering to school nutrition guidelines as part of a broader effort to foster healthy dietary habits and promote health-and-wellness in schools.
- MoHAP, in partnership with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, offers training workshops and ongoing monitoring to build exercise self-efficacy and self-esteem in overweight and obese children, as part of its initiative to combat childhood obesity.
- The UAE's strategic approach to tackling childhood obesity in 2024 includes school-based programs, family involvement, research supervision, nutritional guideline enforcement, and continuous training workshops, with the aim of turning scientific research into community health welfare.
