COVID-19: Abu Dhabi launches programme to control obesity among People of Determination

UAE - Following an increase in the number of overweight cases among People of Determination during the Covid-19 pandemic, a weight management and nutrition programme has been rolled out for them in Abu Dhabi.

The Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO) in cooperation with Ambulatory Healthcare Services (AHS), a SEHA Health System Facility recently surveyed people of determination and contacted them or their families to find out if there were any changes to their physical health and wellbeing.

Following the survey, the two organisations launched a weight management and nutrition programme under the slogan Protect your Health, at the ZHO’s headquarters. This was in line with the directives of the Abu Dhabi government, and its anti-obesity project, central to which is healthcare provision, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mohammed Hawas Al Sadid, Chief Executive Officer at AHS, said: "During the Covid-19 pandemic, we ensured that all their healthcare needs were met, whether those were virus-related or others. We introduced a range of services tailored to ensure their safety and reduce their likelihood of infection, in addition to reducing the need for them to leave home. These services included medication home delivery, Covid-19 screening and vaccination at home, teleconsultation, and fast-track services at all our healthcare centres."

“This is a very important programme. It will help improve the health of our children as many gained a lot of weight during the pandemic because they were staying at home all day without playing,” Salma Mohammed, mother of a child of determination told Khaleej Times.

Some 63 people between the ages of 16 to 50 years are participating in the programme, including affiliates of the organisation's centres in the Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra regions.

The nutrition and weight management programme features nutrition and exercise-awareness workshops for people of determination and their families, in addition to monthly visits by Huda Al-Shaiba Al-Nuaimi, Senior Dietician at AHS.

Weekly tele health consultations will be provided, which will include dietary recommendations for each participant to help them avoid obesity, follow a healthy lifestyle.

Abdullah Abdulalee Al Humaidan, Secretary-General of the ZHO, said: "The organisation is conducting a comprehensive study to monitor the weight of its affiliates, through which the body mass index for overweight and obese people is implemented, highlighting the critical importance of the nutrition and weight management programme."