DUBAI // More intervention is needed to improve the health of young Emirati women, including more education and better role models, experts say.
Research released by UAE University this week found that, out of 300 female students aged 18 to 23, one in three were either overweight or obese.
Doctors and fitness coaches have said that poor habits for young women include staying up late and eating an unhealthy diet, which can lead to conditions such as obesity, brain fog and hormonal disruption.
Emirati Hind Sulaiman, 28, opened Rise fitness studio in Mirdif with her sister, Alia, to combat the health challenges she sees so often.
“I try to educate the women around me about their lifestyle,” she said. “But most of the people around me, unfortunately, dismiss the information presented as an exaggeration and bias towards the healthy lifestyle we’re promoting.”
Late nights and unhealthy snacks are bad habits to which many young women have become accustomed, she said.
“Staying up late doing useless things like talking on the phone and watching TV is very common in society,” she said.
“Also, many families promote staying up late by encouraging late family gatherings and late-night dinners.”
Many traditional snacks, such as khamir, lugaimat and chbab, are made of refined flour, sugar and oil. These are staples in many households, Ms Sulaiman said.
“Most young Emirati women don’t have a serious attitude towards bettering themselves.
“They tend to shrug off good advice and surrender to their temptations,” she said.
“They need a role model who has lived through their culture and overcome the same obstacles that they face on a daily basis to show them that it’s possible to live the lifestyle that they see only in fitness magazines and on TV.”
Emirati Shaikha Al Qassimi, founder of Platform gym, said attitudes are changing but more knowledge is needed.
“Women in the UAE are still learning about proper movement, nutrition and fitness. I think it is amazing how it has changed in the past five years,” she said.
Health and fitness initiatives by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, and others are helping, Ms Al Qassimi said.
However, it is difficult to wade through the wide array of information on health, fitness and nutrition.
“I personally think the most challenging part is knowing what is truth and what is not,” she said.
“We are exposed to so many fads in the media of what works and what doesn’t work.” she said. “Men and women should be better educated on how to eat, what to eat, how to move, how to train and of course find what works best for yourself.”
Maryam Lootah, a 26-year-old Emirati, said many young women were preoccupied with studying or transitioning between being students and employees or businesswomen.
“Sleep and food are the main factors to leading a healthy lifestyle. I did not know the importance of food until I started working,” she said.
Healthy lifestyles are often marketed but more should be done to genuinely integrate them into people’s lives, Ms Lootah said.
“It should be compulsory in all schools and parents should promote extracurricular activities to keep their children engaged independently,” she said.
Dr Nasim Ashraf, medical director at DNA Clinic in Dubai, said intervention must be greater and start earlier.
“We need to start at an early age in schools, especially for girls,” he said.
The most common conditions he sees are obesity, weak immunity, type 2 diabetes and vitamin D deficiency.
“The single most important intervention at a national level is to increase awareness about nutrition, exercise and other good lifestyle measures,” he said.
“This has worked globally for issues such as smoking and cancer, so it can work here too.”
mswan@thenational.ae