Obesity In The United Arab Emirates

Obesity In The United Arab Emirates A health problem in the UAE and the world today, is obesity. We find it in large proportions. The UK and other countries also suffer from this disease. There are many causes of obesity and it affects people locally in the UAE , the UK and the rest of the world. The incidence of obesity is a major problem with many serious effects for the individual and the countries of the UAE , the UK and the world. This study will highlight the problem in the UAE and the UK just to show that the UAE is not the only one afflicted by obesity. Obesity -what is it? The problem of obesity is a major one in todays society, and it is estimated that more than 1 billion people are being classified as obese worldwide .Obesity is an increase in fatty tissue of the body and around organs, and it can cause a variety of bad health problems. Health problems include emotional as well as physical problems, for example, feelings of inferiority, and low self esteem due to an obese look. For children, name-calling, such as tubby, fatty, elephant, or others, as well as bullying from friends can occur. Physical problems are many, and include ones such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and some cancers. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), where the body can no longer respond to insulin, also happens. This influences the control of blood sugar levels which can rise and fall. In the UAE we have high numbers of diabetes sufferers (Global Arab Network 2010).Estimates show that by 2025, about 300 million people are expected to suffer from diabetes related to obesity . This number is to be double that of 1998 (University Edinburgh). Obesity is more than just having more weight or being overweight. It is an accumulation of extra body fat which puts the obese (overweight) persons health at risk, in the form of heart disease and diabetes (Sofsian). Body mass index (BMI) is used by doctors to find out if a person is obese. BMI correlates with height: A normal range is said to be 18.5-25; overweight is 25-30 and a BMI over 30 is considered to be obese (Henderson; Patient UK). Obesity in the UAE: There are three main causes of obesity in the UAE , namely diet, lifestyle and education. Firstly, diet is seen as one of the most important causes. The dietary (food) intake of most young Emiratis revolve around foods of a high carbohydrate and high fat content such as deep-fried chicken, French fries, burgers and pizzas. Many stores such as KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Burger King are well-known and visited on a daily basis. This type of food is eaten more now than in the past due to the UAE having become wealthy after the discovery of oil (ADMC). Stevens (2006), reports that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a boom in economic development and financial growth for all families in a region did not always come with improved health for the people who lived there. Sometimes that opposite could occur with the new found wealth going into junk food and too much of it. Next, the lifestyle of the Emiratis is another reason for obesity. Emiratis of today are less active and doing easier jobs such as desk-work, than in the past when they had to perform physical tasks. Today there is a big number of expatriate workers who do most jobs. Also, there is a general lack of exercise among young and old, male and female . This is mostly due to the weather and a lack of interest in sport or exercise. The healthy few, are mostly those who play football or other sports. Children are mostly found playing computer games in the home and eating too much. More money also means more to spend on food, relaxation and eating out. In some cases, married life also cuts back on exercise and contributes to weight-gain (ADMC). Thirdly, a lack of knowledge about healthy eating is another cause. There is an idea that the more money a country has, the more food they consume irrespective of the consequences of wrong-eating. Another factor is that there is a general lack of intervention from parents in terms of childrens eating habits and nutritional values. Parents do not stop children from eating wrongly and sometimes give children too many snacks and sweets. An awareness of healthy dietary requirements is also absent (ADMC; Sify 2010; Stevens 2006;Yaqoob 2009 ). Statistics UAE: These show that more than 60% of Emirati nationals are overweight and this figure is growing. The World Health Organization (WHO) released the following statistics for 2009:39.9% women are obese, 7th highest in the world and the men 25.6% at the 9th highest. Children in the UAE are also obese and this figure is growing (AMEinfo; Sify 2010; Yaqoob, 2009). UK Obesity in the UK is mainly caused by more or less the same factors as in the UAE- overeating; eating the wrong foods; little or no physical exercise/ activity and inheritance. It is shown that about 2 in 5 adults are overweight and a further 1 in 5 are obese (NeLM;Patient UK). According to government statistics 1 in 4 men and 1in 3 women are overweight- 24% for women and 23% for men; however, the rate of men being obese is increasing and at this rate it is estimated that by 2010 about 6.6 million men and about 6 million women will be obese. About 1 in 3 children between the ages of 2 and 15 are overweight (Henderson; IOTF; Lean; Sofsian).The UK is an old developed country and it is long since people moved away from hard physical work. The average UK life is a sedentary one with easier jobs and lots of TV viewing and little exercise. Also, children are less active and stay indoors mostly to play computer games. Effects Individuals and the country are affected in many different ways. The biggest effect of obesity on the individual is that of health risks. Heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis, to name a few, are prevalent among overweight people. Other problems due to obesity are breathing problems, bad knee joints and difficulty walking (Henderson; Sofsian, 2007). Due to these health concerns the individuals quality of life drops to a low. Obese people can lose confidence and suffer psychologically- this goes for grown-ups and children (Henderson). A result of this could be depression, mood swings, yo-yo dieting, eating disorders like bingeing and withdrawal symptoms (Patient UK;Yaqoob, 2009). The country as a whole can suffer in the form of big numbers of unhealthy citizens in need of medical care. This could put strain on the government health budget in the form of medical-care, heart- transplants and medication. Sick and unhealthy workers are less productive and this leads to a loss of income for companies and job losses for these workers(Henderson). These workers might influence their children badly with eating habits and lifestyle because they are bad role-models (Ameinfo,2009). TREATMENT: Gastric-banding in the UAE to counter Obesity: What is Gastric-banding, gastric bypass and gastric sleeve? Gastric banding is an operation performed under general anesthesia. In this procedure, the surgeon places an adjustable band around the top part of the stomach. It creates a small pouch to hold food. The procedure is done by means of key-hole surgery (laparoscope). Food coming into the pouch is held and let through slowly into the stomach, so the person feels fuller sooner and for a longer time and so does not overeat. This is a safe procedure for those who are drastically overweight and cannot seem to eat less (virtualmedicalcentre 2010). In gastric bypass a step is taken to make the stomach smaller. The surgeon will use staples to divide the stomach into a small upper section and a larger bottom section. The top part of the stomach (called the pouch) is where the food consumed, will go. It holds only a small amount of food. The second step is the bypass. The surgeon will connect a part of the small intestine, called the jejunum, to a small hole in the pouch. The jejunum is farther down from where the stomach normally attaches to the small intestine. Food eaten will now move from the pouch into this new opening into the small intestine. Food now bypasses the lower part of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine, and so the body will absorb less calories (Lee 2009). In a gastric sleeve operation, up to 80 % of the stomach is removed. The remaining portion of the stomach is pinned together, creating a substantially smaller digestive tract (Shaheen 2009). Shaheen (2009) reports that doctors are citing increases of up to 500 % in the number of people turning making use of gastric surgery in trying to lose weight and are even operating on patients as young as 12.This operation is not normally performed on younger than 16 years old, but in this case there was no alternative to curb the obesity. Other Programmes to counter Obesity In the UAE and the UK the governments have started with programmes to lessen obesity and cut back on the numbers of people suffering from it and dying from the results of obesity (Lean, 2006; Yaqoob,2009). Doctors and health practitioners are trying and investigating numerous ways in which to combat obesity (Pittler Ernst 2005). According to Arnold (2009), there are ways and means to overcome the problems of obesity- permanent lifestyle changes in terms of what is eaten, how much is eaten, eating manners and exercise levels. The British Medical Association agrees with the International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF) that, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦interventions at the family and school level need to be matched by changes in the social and cultural context so that the benefits can be sustained and enhanced (BMA, 2005). This means that there should be good efforts and progress made by the medical workers, teachers, doctors, parents, food manufacturers, and media to help with this effort (Yaqoob,2009). An idea even arose to levy a tax on sweet drinks to discourage consumption (New Scientist, 2009). Also, governmental town planners, architects, politicians and legislators should all play a role to build a better and a healthier society (BMA 2005; Yaqoob, 2009). Change 4 Life was started in the UK to highlight child obesity. Their slogan is: Eat well, Move More, Live Longer. It focuses on reducing TV, video games and indoor play and encourages more outdoor play, movement and sports activities (Callaghan, 2009). In the UAE the focus is also on exercise and diet ( McMeans 2008 ; Zawya,2009).At a seminar in Dubai, titled Fat Truth organized by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, Dr Mariam Mattar, general manager of Community Development Authority, said that In our society, there is an exaggerated focus on feeding children, regardless of their nutritional requirements. In order to control and change the growing number of obese children in the UAE, social attitudes had to change first, according to a senior community doctor and others (Ameinfo,2009; Sify 2010).Schools and families should be encouraged to get children to exercise more and eat better (Baxter 2009). Conclusion: Obesity is not confined to the UAE and the UK alone -it is a world-wide problem. Many of the causes and effects for the UAE and the UK , as well as other countries are mostly similar. People are suffering from obesity in both countries and this is causing extreme health problems, and this puts strain on governmental health services. The problem of obesity has been identified and both countries are addressing these in the form of health education, lifestyle changes and exercise initiatives.

The Effects of Watching a Horror Movie

Over the span of modern history, we have seen the film industry help mold our society in many ways. Over the past two decades, I have seen the Sci-fi horror movies take center stage to entertain us. I will explain in this essay my past experiences, feelings, responses, and fantasies while watching horror movies. My first horror movie, â€Å"Friday the 13th†, was at the very least a suspenseful movie that kept me on the edge of my seat. The main character in the story, Jason, could be seen wearing a dark jumpsuit with a white face mask and usually carried a machete in his hand. He was readily available at any turn to chase teenagers and kill them with his weapon with no remorse. Being a teenager myself, I would often wonder why I chose this movie because his victims were teenagers as well and I suppose that had an effect on me subconsciously. Insanely enough, I continued on watching all of the Friday the 13th movies, as well as other horror movies in the years to come. Although I was a teenager watching this particular movie, I was usually alone†¦. in the dark. Some say I was insane to attempt to watch a movie of that nature alone at my age. Others say it was a great idea and added to the suspense. I will have to admit, when I was growing up, I did not scare easily but the effect it had on me at the moment was a little frightening. While watching the movie alone, I felt like Jason was chasing me and that was very un-nerving. The music that was played in the prelude to each murder really did scare me profoundly. I remember shouting at the television, â€Å"Run Faster† or â€Å"Be Quiet†. I had to hug my pillow for security reasons. I can hear the music playing in my head now. Even years later, I can still remember it vividly. Insanity can be a part of us all. The following may help to prove this theory. I remember my response and feelings after the movie ended. I was intrigued and fascinated and was left wanting more. I didn’t want the movie to end because the dramatic effects and suspense left me wondering what was next. I didn’t like seeing the bloody murders but it fully entertained me throughout the movie without a dull moment. I couldn’t imagine these events happening in real life. I would briefly fantisize about playing a part in one of the murder scenes. I believe that I could run faster than they did to get away from that killing monster. What about the random teenagers that just couldn’t stop breathing hard and whimpering just before Jason found them. Some questions that entered my mind was, now that I have watched this scary movie, will I have nightmares to follow? Could this actually happen to me? Is there someone crazy enough to commit such heinous crimes? I remember thinking that if I were them, I would definitely have more self-control, but I was so scared that I was biting my tongue and clinching my fists. While watching the movie, I was so involved that I imagined what my decisions would realistically be if I were going through the same thing. Would I try to fight back? Would I pass out from being fearful? I’m glad that I don’t have to worry about those things happening to me because; after all it was just a movie.

The Relationship of Allegory of the Cave to Learning and...

The Relationship of Allegory of the Cave to Learning and Education The Allegory of the Cave is Platos attempt to explain the relationship between knowledge and ignorance. Starting with the image of men in fetters that limit their movement and force them to look only ahead, this is the idea that all men and women are bound by the limits of their ignorance. Men and women are restricted by the limits of the education of their parents and the small amounts that can be culled from their environment. Images and shadows are representations of those things surrounding us that we see but do not understand because of our limited knowledge. As we obtain the ability to see things more clearly in the cave that is our ignorance, we start to then†¦show more content†¦Upon first exiting the cave we are blinded by the brightest of light, though we cannot recognize its origin, we know that it charts our course. Slowly we begin to notice at first little variations of light, mostly little color changes, as if we could not have possibly have taken it in all at once. This is the first realization of education; past truths are either put into perspective or proven false. Either way our mind is finally opening up to the ideas and images that have evaded us for so long. The ability to reason is building within us and we start to question all things past we knew to be true. The eyes start to see even more now and the pain has subsided. We are ravenous and cannot seem to get enough of our surroundings. The strangest thing starts to happen, it seems that the more knowledge we acquire the more questions that present themselves. The same could be said for education in two different ways. First, the more knowledge that we acquire, the more ability we seem to have for the future acquisition of knowledge. Its as if we are not limited by the container we use to store this information, on the contrary, we now have discovered that its depths are limitless. Secondly, the more knowledge we acquire, the more confidence we seem to find in regards to taking on bigger challenges and tasks. Upon exiting the cave and acquiring an education and knowledge we are then posed the dilemma. Do weShow MoreRelatedEducation Is A Major Aspect Of An American Childhood953 Words   |  4 PagesEducation is a major aspect of an American childhood. Students are first introduced to the education system at the age of five and are typically required to continue education until eighteen. After high school graduation we are granted the choice to continue our education at a university or a vocational school, or dive in full force in the workforce. Education aids students to determine how they will define success in their life. 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Smoking Is The Single Highest Cause Preventable Death

Smoking is the single highest cause of preventable death in America and puts users at significantly greater risk for disease compared to the rest of the population. Tobacco use costs the U.S. more than 289 billion dollars annually in medical expenses and lost productivity (Surgeon General, 2014). The problems associated with smoking are due in part to its addictiveness. Nicotine is the addictive substance found in tobacco and its chemical dependence is as strong as heroin, cocaine, or alcohol (CDC, 2014). Getting all smokers to quit entirely is not realistic due to nicotine’s addictive characteristics. The evidence suggests that many smokers want to quit but can’t. In 2010 68.8% of smokers reported they would like to quit smoking entirely†¦show more content†¦This study will measure the effectiveness of using differently framed ENDS messages to change perceptions regarding the risks, cessation, and harm-reduction potential of ENDS. Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) ENDS are battery powered devices used for nicotine consumption. The nicotine is typically mixed with propylene glycol or glycerol, flavorings, and additional chemicals (Dawkins, Kimber, Puwanesarasa Soar, 2014). Since ENDS are combustion free, they don’t have any â€Å"tar† or ash and deliver fewer toxins and carcinogens compared to regular cigarettes. When looking at twelve different brands, the toxicant levels of ENDS were demonstrated to be 9 to 450 times lower than cigarettes and comparable to a medicinal nicotine inhaler (Goniewicz et al., 2013). There are three generations of ENDS devices. First generation ENDS look similar to cigarettes and are disposable or rechargeable. Second generation ENDS look more like pens and are refillable with a nicotine-containing liquid often referred to as e-liquid. First and second generation devices are commonly sold in convenience stores. (Dawkins et al., 2014). Third generation ENDS are often referred to as Personal Vaporizers (PV). PV’s are sold in â€Å"vaping† stores or lounges and cost much more than first and second generation devices. They are more common with long-term ENDS users and are more