(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) googletag.defineSlot('/1251894/News-InArticle-300x250', [300, 250],'div-gpt-ad-1482928565536-6').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSyncRendering(); googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1482928565536-6'); When residents of a city collectively lose weight equal to that of 100 elephants, the health authorities might have put in some really workable policies, you may think.
Also, if chefs of that city compete to come up with healthier food options and then name them after the mayor, the health policies become a sure recipe for success.
That's what happened in Oklahoma City in the US after being encouraged by the current Mayor Mick Cornett.
Mick put the city on a diet.
And Dubai is encouraging the same approach to keep the city healthy.
"We had a few weighty issues in the city. It was among the top cities in the US with the most obese people," Mick told Khaleej Times in an interview on the sidelines of the two-day Dubai Health Forum that started on Monday.
The mayor set up a website that encouraged residents who wanted to lose weight to sign up. The city went on a diet and in four years 47,000 people collectively lost 1,000,000 pounds, equal to the weight of 100 elephants assuming an average elephant weighs a 10,000 pounds.
"We raised enough awareness and gave people information ... and that was a success," he said.
Mick also said that the city was built in the 20th century and was fairly modern compared to other US cities.
"We have a car culture and hardly any walkways which did not give a lot of opportunities to residents to exercise."
Today, there is a lot of construction going on in the city to create walking and jogging paths and parks for people.
Currently, the city's website www.thiscityisgoingonadiet.com shows a total of 52,167 members.
Mick, however, said that he was pro-industry in his approach. "I do not want to impose taxes on fast food but let people make healthier choices."
Dubai is already on a similar path and Dr Manal Al Taryam, CEO of Primary HealthCare at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said that collaboration between different health entities could make this programme possible in the UAE.
"We want to learn from Oklahoma's experience ... and we do not want to introduce any taxes," she said, adding that taxes on smoking did not help.
Food labelling a must in Dubai
Dubai has already introduced the healthy restaurant initiative whereby the outlets are required to label the exact nutrients in the food being served.
By next year, food labelling will also be compulsory for all eatables in the city.
"If the menu has a Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Municipality tag, then it means we have approved it," said Dr Wafa Ayesh, Director of Clinical Nutrition at DHA.
"The move will help promote the concept of mindful eating and will deter people from frequently opting from high calorie meals," she said.
She also said: "Many countries abroad have successfully incorporated this rule. Globally obesity rates are growing while dependence on outside eating has increased from an occasional weekend meal to eating out on a more frequent basis."
Guidelines are also are being updated for schools while a drive to make the lunch box healthy is also being rolled out.
"At the end of the day, we will do everything in our power to improve the way community members in Dubai eat, yet finally it does boils down to individual choices," she said.
A corner to discuss latest trends
The DHF featured a Health Technology Park that included a TEDx-style platform where the private healthcare sector shared its success stories.
Topics such as 3D printing medicines and drug-loaded medical devices, investment in healthcare and changing the fitness movement for future generations were discussed on the first day. It also included a social media corner where influencers in the field of health took centre stage to discuss the latest trends and issues in the health sector. The future of surgeries aided by robots is also being showcased as well as the technological evolution of robotics in the field of health and the evolution of endoscopic surgeries.
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Asma Ali Zain Associated with KT for 15 years. Covers health issues, Pakistan community, human interest stories as well as general topics for daily news or features.
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