Secret worth its weight in gold

There is no magic bullet for weight loss, no matter how big the monetary reward for losing weight.

Simple exercise, such as jogging, can help keep your weight under control. Pawan Singh / The National

The statistics tell a sorry story. The UAE is ranked as the fifth most obese country in the world, according to the BMC Public Health journal. One in three children in the UAE is overweight or obese, says a study by Zayed Military Hospital, while the World Health Organisation estimates that 67 per cent of Emirati men and 72 per cent of women have exceeded their recommended body mass index. Levels of obesity-related illnesses, especially type 2 diabetes, are among the highest in the world, and treatment for these ailments puts a large burden on the country’s health system. It’s an issue we cannot ignore.

For the second year running, Dubai Municipality is doing its bit to encourage weight loss by offering a "weight in gold" competition, offering a gram of the precious metal for every kilogram lost over a six-week period. As incentives go, it's a fairly powerful one. However, eyebrows have been raised in the medical community because this year's campaign includes families – with one section of the contest open to those as young as 21 months. Doctors told The National that, except in the case of extreme obesity, expecting a child under four to lose two kilograms in a month might pose health risks.

While its intentions are undeniably good, the problem with the Dubai scheme is that it could encourage people to adopt unhealthy practices, such as “crash” diets, rather than to learn and maintain sustainable eating habits. It’s true that there is also a lot of confusing information floating around –not just in popular magazines and other media but from medical professionals themselves. At various times we have been told that we should eat more carbohydrates and less protein and fats – or to do exactly the opposite.

The truth of the matter is that there is no “magic bullet” for weight loss. But there is a proven way of losing those extra kilograms, and it is one that we all already know. The “secret” is to eat in moderation and to take exercise – whether that means walking up and down the stairs instead of catching the lift, a brisk morning jog a few days a week or a regular workout at the gym. The bad news is that you probably won’t reach your target weight within six weeks, and you almost certainly will not be swimming in free gold. But, with a commitment to continuing to lead a healthy lifestyle, you will feel and look better, and live longer.