Comments
There are no comments.
Add Comments
AFP/Riyadh
Obesity and diabetes threaten Gulf states' economic health as well as human wellbeing, Saudi Arabia's health minister has said, as the region struggles with the growing cost of the conditions.
The Gulf has a mounting problem with obesity, which is associated with diabetes.
With most Gulf citizens aged under 30, overweight people and diabetes "threaten the wealth of our society and that is the youth," Khaled al-Falih said on Tuesday evening at the opening of an international conference about the two related health problems.
Cited by the Saudi Press Agency, Falih said 15-20% of people in Gulf countries suffer from diabetes.
Saudi experts have previously blamed urbanisation, addiction to smartphones, lack of exercise and the prevalence of fast food for unhealthy lifestyles.
The minister cited a global study which put the cost of treating diabetes at $500bn in 2011, a figure set to reach $750bn by 2030.
"They take up so much financial cost and medical effort that could be better channeled towards achieving valuable medical goals in research and development of health services," Falih said.
There are no comments.
SPORT Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.
TECHNOLOGY Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education
CULTURE Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions
ARABIA The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged
ARABIA Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.
ARABIA The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.
ECONOMY Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.
