Training and Awareness-Raising Program Tackles Chronic, Debilitating Disease
Doha, Qatar - A successful four-day camp at the ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence drew to a close on Thursday, as ASPIRE and the Qatar Diabetes Association joined together to battle one of Qatar's most serious health problems.
Two dozen young Qatari nationals with family histories of diabetes tried out a wide range of sports and fitness classes as part of a unique diabetes prevention camp.
The aim of the camp was to demonstrate how healthy lifestyles can reduce the incidence of diabetes across the community, and also benefit sufferers from the crippling disease. Frequent exercise and participation in sport can reduce or prevent obesity and diabetes-related conditions.
Dr Abdullah Al-Hamaq, Executive Director, Qatar Diabetes Association, said: "Obesity is an important public health issue which is increasingly widespread, in the country and the world alike. It is widely perceived as a risk factor leading to diabetes.
"For the teenagers who took part, this program was an opportunity to become more physically active and to understand how their life decisions can have an important impact on their health. We hope this creates a pattern of future physical activity that will contribute to long and healthy lives in future, as well as demonstrating the importance of exercise to the wider community."
Diabetes afflicts more than 246 million people and is a major cause of illness and death in Qatar. By 2025, it is expected that 380 million people will be living with the disease worldwide.
Participating in a specially-tailored course on the ASPIRE ACTIVE community program, the participants were taught different types of sport as well as offered advice and guidance on diet and exercise.
Katie Nahas, Dietician, Qatar Diabetes Association, said: "The program of the camp consists of offering a healthy reduced calorie diet supported by daily workshops on eating habits, accompanied by a variety of sports and exercises aimed at initiating weight loss."
A program of Physical Education - including bowling, basketball and martial arts - was used in order encourage the children to develop health patterns of behaviour, with special classes that looked at dietary habits and weight loss. This was supported by a series of sporting contests and a field trip to the broadcaster Al Jazeera.
Prof. Dr. Dieter Hackfort, Dean, ASPIRE, said: 'This initiative represents an important contribution to the fight against diabetes in Qatar. ASPIRE's emphasis on healthy lifestyles promotes the role that sport can play in ensuring that the community as a whole is healthier and happier."
Gisela Hackfort, ASPIRE ACTIVE head, said: "Sport and fitness is something that we believe should be available to all, no matter their circumstances and background, and so we welcome the participants of the camp and look forward to working to improve awareness of the issues of diabetes and obesity in Qatar."
ASPIRE has a long and successful history of working with health authorities in Qatar to promote healthy lifestyles and involvement in sport. The Academy continues to support a series of community activities for children and adults.
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About The Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA)
Established as a charitable, non-profit organization in 1995, Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) is a centre of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Family Development.
QDA aims to be the leader in diabetes prevention and care, locally and regionally. QDA is actively supported by private companies and firms in Doha who believe in enhancing community health by participating in regional health programs .QDA has been an active member in the International Federation of Diabetes ( IDF ) since 1997.
Please visit www.qda.org.qa for more information about the Qatar Diabetes Association.
About ASPIRE
ASPIRE, the Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha, was created with the dual aims of identifying and transforming promising student athletes into world renowned champions across a wide range of sports and to act as a beacon to draw sporting culture into the centre of life in Qatar and the surrounding region.
The Academy is distinguished by a philosophy which aims to develop the whole student, providing them with full academic, social and sporting development.
Unrivalled facilities mark the Academy out as one of the world's foremost sporting and educational institutions, and entice an ever increasing number of visitors from across the spectrum of world sports to use or simply view them.
With one indoor and seven outdoor football pitches, athletics tracks, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, diving pool, combat arenas, gymnastics arena, specially designed weight rooms, lecture halls, dormitories to accommodate what will eventually become 1,000 students, a medical centre and more besides, much beneath the world's largest purpose built indoor sports dome, every aspect of the development of elite athletes is catered for. ASPIRE is a place for those who dare to dream.
© Press Release 2007
