Obesity Among Adults in the United Arab Emirates
Obesity is a serious disease that has effect on every system of our body. On individual level, obesity may cause such health problems, as high blood pressure, strokes, type 2 diabetes and even cancer. When a person is overweight, it takes more pressure to move the blood; moreover, arteries tend to be stiff and thick. Diabetes is another illness, often caused by excess weight. Almost 90% of people living with type 2 diabetes are overweight or have obesity (Your Weight and Diabetes). Obesity is also associated with risk of cancer. It was estimated that 4 percent cases in men and 7 percent cases of cancer in women are caused by overweight (Obesity and Cancer Risk).
Obesity is a major issue in the UAE. Over 60% of Emirati nationals are overweight and the number is rising (Batayneh). Obesity is a national problem, because it becomes expensive for the country to provide efficient medical care. Lack of activity due to specifics climate, as well as other factors, contribute to increase of obese people in the UAE. The government allocates many funds on treating this condition. It costs between 13 and 40 per cent of the health budget, according to different estimations (Harding). Obesity is a national problem for UAE, which should be solved in order to prevent people from numerous diseases that are caused by overweigh.
Although it seems to be a paradox, obesity coexists with undernutrition on the global level. Obesity is a global social burden that has many health, social and economic impacts. It is responsible for about 5% of deaths worldwide and the global economic impact is roughly $2.0 trillion (Dobbs & Sawers). It affects productivity of employers and well-being of people on the whole. Many people become economically unproductive, which is a serious global economic problem. Obesity is a complicated problem, which should be addressed at all levels.
References
Your Weight and Diabetes. (2015, February). Retrieved November 27, 2016, from http://www.obesity.org/content/weight-diabetes
Obesity and Cancer Risk. (2012). Retrieved November 27, 2016, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet
Batayneh, S. S. (2014, November 29). Obesity in UAE. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from https://prezi.com/kpkojsmut22h/copy-of-obesity-in-uae/
Harding, N. (2012, July 5). The true cost of obesity in the UAE. Retrieved November 28, 2016, from http://gulfnews.com/leisure/health/the-true-cost-of-obesity-in-the-uae-1.1044866
Dobbs, R., & Sawers, C. (2014, December 13). Obesity: A global economic issue. Retrieved November 27, 2016, from …
