The Qatar Armed Forces band leads participants in the annual 'Beat Diabetes Walk,' which gathered more than 9,000 people at the Aspire Zone. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam

By Peter Alagos/Business Reporter

The annual “Beat Diabetes Walk” has gathered more than 9,000 participants, including 3,500 students during its sixth edition held at the Aspire Zone on Friday.
The community event, which surpassed last year’s total participants of 8,000, aims to raise awareness about diabetes and to promote the benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the walkathon, Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) director Dr Abdulla al-Hamaq said the reception to the “Beat Diabetes Walk” was the result of the growing awareness campaign launched by partners such as the Landmark Group and Aspire Zone Management.
According to figures released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the prevalence of diabetes has reached 23.9% of the adult population in Saudi Arabia, 23.1% in Kuwait, and 19.8% in Qatar, over twice the global average of 8.3%.
The IDF report also blamed obesity and being overweight, “brought by rising economic prosperity,” as the culprits to driving the diabetes epidemic in the region. Up to 75% of adults and up to 40% of under-18s are overweight or obese, the report added.
But al-Hamaq said he is optimistic that the State, along with other government agencies and private sector partners such as schools and universities, will be able to address the issue of diabetes, particularly among kids.
“One of our programmes focuses mainly on raising awareness on diabetes among school children. When kids learn the benefits of exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, this creates a significant impact when they become adults thus, lowering the number of adults suffering from this disease,” he said.
Landmark Group Qatar general manager Saikat Mishra said: “This year, over thousands of people in India and across the GCC region will walk to show their support for diabetes awareness and we hope each one of them is inspired to make small lifestyle changes to either prevent or manage the condition.”
“We thank the Qatar Diabetes Association and local authorities for encouraging and wonderfully supporting such community events, particularly Aspire Zone Management."
Al-Hamaq also said: “The Qatar edition of the walkathon supports Qatar Foundation’s mission to foster a progressive society while addressing immediate social needs. Diabetes is a lifestyle condition that can be managed if detected early. We look to emphasise the importance of regular check-ups and a healthy lifestyle.
“As this condition can impact any member of the family at any age, it is important to be alert and take the right step to safeguard health. Landmark is an integral part of the community and we engage with millions of people every day. We are proud to play a pivotal role in enabling the community to beat diabetes through a planned, comprehensive campaign.”
Landmark Group Qatar deputy marketing manager Rashmikant Dhanrajellu told Gulf Times that social media also played a significant role in the awareness campaign against diabetes and for the successful turnout of participants this year.