Obesity is a term that’s used to describe weight gain that is unhealthy, for a given height, age, and gender. The World Health Organisation describes obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk. Once considered a problem only in high-income countries, today, some middle-income countries have among the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity worldwide.
Fat accumulation in the body can be caused by various factors, including genetics, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle, hormonal disturbances, and many more. It causes conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, knee and joint problems, stroke, conditions of the heart, infertility, and reproductive issues, as well as certain cancers.
Dr. Randa Mortada El Tawil, General Physician, Family Medicine at Emirates Hospital Marina Clinic said that obesity can be identified using several measures.
“A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more is classified as obese, and above 40 as very obese. Waist circumference is also very important. More than 88 centimetres for females and more than 102 centimetres for males indicates increased risk. Body fat percentage is another key indicator, with obesity defined as over 35% in females and over 25% in males.”
Why Is Obesity A Rising Concern In Dubai?
Genetics and cultural factors play a huge role in an individual’s chance of becoming obese. However, leading a sedentary lifestyle, eating unhealthy food, and lack of physical activity also play a huge role.
“Dubai has a vibrant food scene, which is part of what makes living here enjoyable. At the same time, the convenience of eating out regularly, ordering food, and larger portion sizes can make it easy for people to take in more calories. Besides, most people have busy schedules, which often leads to irregular meal timing or relying on quick carbohydrate-heavy meals simply because they are easy,” said Samuel Hendry, Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach at Roar Fitness.
Samuel Hendry from Roar Fitness further added that fast food and convenience meals are easy to access in Dubai, which means many people naturally lean towards quick options when schedules get busy. Regularly relying on these types of meals often increases total calorie intake while lowering overall food quality, especially when portion sizes are larger and meals are less balanced.
In addition, most people in Dubai have jobs that don’t require physical activity. This leads to a sedentary lifestyle, with little to no exercise. In Dubai, many people have jobs that require less physical activity, and people drive more and walk less. Free time is spent watching TV or engrossed in mobile phones. People's food habits have changed, resulting in eating bigger portions of unhealthy food rather than healthy food.
Narjesene Rasheed, Head of Wellness and Nutrition at Kaya Wellness and Longevity said weight gain among residents is a pattern of eating behaviours shaped by convenience, social life, long working hours, frequent travelling, sedentary lifestyle and availability of food.
“Clinically, patients who consume fast food more than three times a week almost always struggle with weight reduction unless habits change. On the flip side, even traditional meals can lead to weight gain if portions are excessive or foods are heavily fried. The benefit comes from structure and simplicity, not the cuisine label itself.”
Narjesene Rasheed from Kaya Wellness and Longevity further added that skipping breakfast, overeating at night, drinking calories instead of eating them, very low vegetable intake, and snacking continuously rather than eating structured meals are some of the common mistakes made by people struggling with obesity.
Quick Tips To Reduce Obesity
Dr. Randa Mortada El Tawil, of Emirates Hospital Marina Clinic said that excess weight can be dropped by focusing on a healthy, low-calorie diet, and exercising regularly.
“Apart from diet and exercise, one should also check for hormonal imbalances or any underlying causes of stubborn weight. Quality sleep and stress management are equally important. Preventing weight gain requires staying active, maintaining energy levels, building muscle, monitoring hormones and body chemistry, watching hidden calories, and ensuring adequate sleep while controlling stress.”
Narjesene Rasheed at Kaya Wellness and Longevity said obesity can be reduced by:
- Replacing sugary drinks with water, unsweetened beverages, lemon water or tender coconut water.
- Limiting fast food to once in a fortnight or less.
- Adding vegetables to at least two meals daily
- Maintaining consistent meal timing
- Stopping heavy meals within 3-4 hours before sleep
- Eat a protein-based breakfast to reduce evening cravings
- Share restaurant portions or box half immediately
- Keep planned snacks (fruit, yogurt, nuts) to avoid random eating
- Avoid eating while driving or watching screens