* Astonishing Health Trends Identified in the Q2 Survey
* 68% respondents in the UAE do not get proper sleep at night daily
* 61% respondents find themselves obese or slightly overweight
* 90% respondents eat fried foods two-three times a week
* 57% respondents resort to television and internet to relieve stress
* 49% respondents bring work home two-three times a week
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 6 October 2010 - Zarca Interactive, a leading provider of next generation online survey solutions has unveiled the findings of its second quarter (Q2) health and fitness study for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has highlighted certain astonishing health trends amongst the residents of the country.
The findings of the second independent health and fitness study for UAE, has astonishingly revealed that 68% of the respondents do not get proper sleep at night. This alarming health hazard was complemented with the finding that 61% respondents of the survey acknowledged being obese and slightly overweight.
Following a similar trend, Zarca's Q2 survey also indicated that 90% of the UAE respondents consume fried foods two-three times a week while 53% respondents did not know how to calculate their Body Mass Index (BMI). The independent health and fitness study conducted by Zarca Interactive in the UAE witnessed the participation of over 750 respondents, which comprised of over 22 percent UAE and GCC Nationals.
In a sharp contrast to the Q1 health and fitness study unveiled earlier by Zarca Interactive, the Q2 results of the survey identified that over 25% of respondents do not consume breakfast everyday, with 78% of those respondents quoting the lack of time as the reason for this unhealthy practice. 57% of respondents however did consider the inclusion of carbohydrates, proteins, fibers and fats as constituents for healthy living.
Commenting on the announcement of the findings for the second quarter of the Health and Fitness Study for UAE, Javed Farooqui, Executive Director & Head Middle East and Africa Zarca Interactive said," The Health and Fitness Study initiative undertaken by Zarca Interactive is aimed at developing a health and fitness awareness index, which will identify prevailing health trends across GCC on a regular basis".
He further added," We are confident that the detailed and innovative findings of Zarca's study will pave the way for an increased awareness and implementation of healthier lifestyles by the residents of the region".
Zarca Interactive's health and fitness study for UAE vindicates the World Health Organisation reports highlighted during the meeting at the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region in Egypt which alerted that the increasing use of television and computers were leading to sedentary lifestyles. As per Zarca's study, over 57% of the respondents from UAE resorted to television and internet to relieve their stress instead of indulging into any physical activity. This finding was further accentuated by the finding that over 49% of the survey respondents bring work home two-three times a week.
The trend for physical exercises also continued to present dismal results with over 55% respondents affirming their access to prolonged fresh air only on weekends. Similarly only 12% respondents confirmed undertaking any form of physical exercise regularly.
According to the survey, which comprised of 70% males, a combination of toast and coffee is the preferred breakfast option for 62% of the respondents, closely followed by cereals and eggs. The water intake levels witnessed a healthy trend with over 62% respondents confirming an intake of at least 1.5 liters of water everyday.
The intake of multivitamins as a regular diet met with skepticism, with 33% respondents considering them expensive and a waste of money. 15% respondents however continued with their multivitamin doses as prescribed by the doctor. While the intake percentage of multivitamins might be low, more than 87% respondents were found to be highly aware about verifying the manufacturing and expiry dates for various products.
The similar awareness trend was witnessed amongst the respondents with regards to the self monitoring of key health parameters. Zarca's Q2 survey for the UAE has indicated that 54% of respondents measure their weight regularly, with over 21% respondents regularly monitoring their blood sugar levels.
Zarca Interactive offers a flexible, highly user-friendly and feature-rich solution which can handle multiple languages, provide anonymity to respondents where needed and allow multiple user/role based access in a cost effective manner. The patented survey platform also allows the user to import data from scanned paper-based surveys so that reports can be generated on one platform.
The US-based outfit is the pioneer in online feedback management in the UAE. Zarca Interactive first came into the scene to bridge the gap that existed between small boutique research agencies and the bigger industry players. Through its innovative approach to feedback management and its patented technology platform, the company has since established a position of thought-leadership in the areas of data-driven decision-making in a very short period of time. Today, in addition to Dubai Quality Group, Zarca Interactive has a vast portfolio of over 75 clients in the government and private sectors, including Ministry of Social Affairs, Dubai Customs, Dubai Ports Authority, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Real Estate Corporation, ADCB, Emirates NBD and NBAD.
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About Zarca Interactive
Zarca Interactive is a leading provider of next generation online survey solutions. Zarca Interactive provides an unrivaled enterprise grade technology platform, survey research expertise, and world class service so clients manage all their survey needs (create, deploy, collect, analyze and manage) within a single source. Zarca Interactive is committed to providing quality solutions and services that empower our customers to view and use feedback data as a strategic asset. Headquartered in Herndon, VA, Zarca Interactive is a global company with offices in San Francisco, Dubai, UAE and Bombay, India. Zarca Interactive has been at the forefront of research for businesses and governments across the world with online research expertise in Human Resources (Employee Satisfaction Survey, Employee Engagement Survey, HR Benefits Awareness Survey, HR Benefits Appreciation Survey, Pre-hiring screening survey, New Employee Survey& Employee Exit Survey), Marketing (Customer Satisfaction Survey, Customer Loyalty Survey, Product Needs/Gap Survey, Service Needs/Gap Survey ,Brand Management Survey), Procurement ( Vendor Certification Survey, Vendor Experience Survey, Quality of Service Survey), Product Development (Product Gap Survey, Usability Feedback Survey), Sales (Lead Qualification Survey, Prospect Outlook Survey ,Sales Training Survey ,Sales Outlook Survey, Support/Client Services, Help Desk Satisfaction Survey), Training (Training Needs Survey, Training Effectiveness Survey). For more information, visit www.zarca.com
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© Press Release 2010
