Long hours spent sitting down doing little more exercise than the lightest of typing is – it seems – to the detriment of your health. But for many in the business world, this is a daily reality. It is for this reason that Abu Dhabi’s ICLDC have launched ‘I Play Sports’, the latest event in their Diabetes.Knowledge.Action campaign.
The stats are shocking. Presently nearly a fifth of the population within the UAE are thought to be suffering with this condition, and nearly half of them unaware of the fact. Of these, a large majority are working men in the corporate world. High fat, high sugar diets coupled with a lack of exercise and a lifestyle which demands long periods spent behind a desk or in traffic jams are thought to be to blame. The result is a huge increase in incidences of diabetes, which, if undetected, can lead to further life-threatening complications. There is a particular danger with type 2 diabetes; its onset is slow and difficult to detect, and commonly develops later in life.
The challenge, according to Dr Maha Barakat, is to make people aware. ‘I Play Sports’ is part of a long-running campaign which has also targeted healthy cooking, children and walking. Last year over 5,000 people took part in ICLDC’s walkathon along Abu Dhabi’s Corniche Road – they are expecting even more when the event is repeated this November 14. But as Dr Barakat explains: ‘The new sports event is essentially aimed at the corporate world; people who used to be sportsmen at university or school, but their working life took over and they no longer think about sport.’ It takes the form of an open football competition, set to take place this September during Ramadan. ‘The real problem with exercise,’ Dr Barakat suggests, ‘is that people start an exercise programme and then they get bored. We wanted to make it fun. Each company can nominate a team, and in the run-up they will begin to practise. Our hope is that they start to get fit, but our primary aim is to raise awareness.’ The event hasn’t launched yet, but interest is already high from those who have heard about it informally. But why football? ‘I think it’s the most accessible – everyone has played it,’ Dr Barakat states simply.
The event is aimed at men, but plans for a female version as well as another for children and the elderly may well follow. ‘Ultimately you’ve got to look at the whole of society,’ Dr Barakat declares.
In the end it is all about changing mindsets. You needn’t have to play football: ‘The simplest thing you can do is walking,’ she advises. ‘There is scientific evidence that walking for 30 minutes, five days a week can help protect you from developing diabetes. The municipality of Abu Dhabi has even created walkways (a 3km walkway has just opened on Sultan Bin Zayed Street) which are now encouraging people to walk and lead a healthier lifestyle.’
I Play Sports takes place from September 21-24 at Zayed Sports City. To get involved call 02 404 0800 or email csansour@icldc.ae. Visit www.icldc.ae for details on more.
