Covid-19 worsens childhood obesity in the UAE, new study finds

The Ministry of Health and Prevention survey says pupils are not getting enough exercise

Dubai schools will end all distance learning on October 3 - ensuring pupils will return to classrooms across the city. Shruti Jain / The National

At the end of the summer term 2021, just 52% of pupils were in classrooms, with the remainder studying from home. Victor Besa / The National

This autumn term, no pupils are required to be vaccinated to return to school and no regular testing is mandatory, the city's education regulator KHDA said. Victor Besa / The National

Under the new KDHA rules for the autumn term of 2021, social distancing of one metre is recommended, but not mandated. Shruti Jain / The National

Eligible school staff who do not wish to have the vaccine must submit a negative PCR test each week, said the KHDA. Victor Besa / The National

Officials said 96% of Dubai's private school teachers were now vaccinated, and that 70% of children aged 12 to 17 had received coronavirus shots. Pawan Singh / The National

After-hours extra-curricular classes can now restart. Pawan Singh / The National

Swimming and sports classes can restart. Pawan Singh / The National

School trips, excursions and camps will now be allowed. Courtesy: GEMS

Pupils in the UAE are less active, more obese and spending more time on their electronic devices because of Covid-19, a survey by the Ministry of Health and Prevention has found.

A study of 27,754 parents found that pupils were 46 per cent less physically active than before the pandemic.

The use of electronic devices for education and entertainment has increased during the past 12 months.

The lack of physical activity, coupled with the increase in the use of electronic devices and ordering food from restaurants, has led to a rise in obesity levels.

More than half of the parents surveyed (51.9 per cent) said they reduced orders for food delivery, while 19.7 per cent said they increased their online food delivery orders.

Sleep deprivation has also increased in children. The pandemic has also had an adverse impact on the mental health of nearly half of Emirati pupils who were polled.

The survey found disabled children needed regular physiotherapy sessions to get rid of the negative impacts of the pandemic.

Dr Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, assistant under-secretary for centres and health clinics at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, said the study would be used to update the health database of pupils.

The findings will be used to support the state's healthcare planning strategies and improve the quality of services after the pandemic.

“Through the outcomes, a number of health indicators of the national agenda will be updated, especially obesity, physical activity, and healthy food among children," he said.

"In the meantime, a set of programmes and initiatives will be prepared to come up with proper solutions to the challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic on the public health of school pupils."

Dr Naglaa Sajwani, head of the school health department at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, said it was important for families to adopt healthy habits at home, such as getting the right nutrition and exercising inside or around the home.

She said pupils should be educated on the proper way of using electronic devices "in order to prevent their negative effects, including obesity, back pain, and vision problems".

Pupils should also get enough sleep, Dr Sajwani said.

The survey was conducted by the Ministry of Health and Prevention in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre.