People undergo series of tests at the 14th edition of the “Fitness and Health Programme” launched at Aspire Park yesterday. PICTURES: Joey Aguilar

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
Many of the new diabetes cases diagnosed under the awareness campaign of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) are people aged 40 and below, an official at the Public Health Department said yesterday.
“Most of these people were not aware of their health condition until they were screened in the malls where a number of stands had been set up,” health educator Khaja Yousuf Ali said on the sidelines of the 14th edition of the “Fitness and Health Programme” launched at Aspire Park.
He cited stress, lack of physical activity, excessive consumption of soft drinks, sweets, foods high in sodium, and a lack of health awareness as contributory factors for developing diabetes and other lifestyle diseases.
“They also do not have the time to prepare food at home so they prefer to eat fast foods most of the time, which is dangerous,” he noted.
A number of young people aged 30 and below also suffer from diabetes and hypertension, according to Ali. Many of them failed to visit health centres or clinics in the past few months for check-up.
“We are trying to reach every person in Qatar, not only one particular category of workers including labourers. We also visit companies and far places to reach out to as many people as possible,” Ali stressed.
He said residents should take advantage of such health campaigns which provide access to free medical check-up and diabetes screening.
Part of the screening process includes counseling people how to manage and prevent diabetes and other diseases.
Ali also urged residents to exercise, eat a balanced diet, avoid using oil repeatedly for frying, and to have regular medical check-ups and screenings.
Taking wrong food combination is also bad for the health such as eating chicken with fish at the same time, he said.
The “Fitness and Health Programme” which concludes today at Aspire Park from 4pm to 7pm, is organised by the Qatar Olympic Committee, through the Active Qatar Campaign, and in co-operation with Supreme Education Council, Qatar Diabetes Association, Aspire Zone and Primary Health Care Corporation.
People undergo a number of physical, blood pressure and blood tests and measurements focusing on height and weight to get their body mass index.
In a press statement, Active Qatar Campaign’s Services and Logistics Committee president Isshaq al-Hashimi said they want to promote sport as an integral part of residents’ daily life and to strengthen their relationship between QOC and the local community.
He also reiterated the importance of doing regular exercise to prevent diabetes and other diseases.