Gulf Children's Day: 5 golden tips to protect your child from obesity

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries celebrate "Gulf Child Day" on January 15th each year, an occasion that aims to highlight children's rights to health, education, and proper upbringing. Coinciding with this important annual event, relevant health authorities, most notably the "Live Healthy" initiative and the Gulf Health Council, have issued urgent awareness messages to families to protect their children from the dangers of obesity, which now threatens the future of coming generations.

The importance of Gulf Children's Day in promoting public health

Gulf Children's Day is not just about entertainment and celebrations; it serves as a strategic platform for unifying efforts among the GCC countries to address shared health challenges. Childhood obesity is at the forefront of these challenges, given its direct impact on human and economic development in the region. A child raised in a healthy environment is the cornerstone of a productive society free from chronic diseases in the future.

The child is a victim of customs, not their creator

Awareness campaigns have emphasized a fundamental truth: children do not choose obesity; rather, it is a direct result of the behavioral and dietary habits surrounding them within the family. Based on this, experts have offered five golden tips for creating a safe environment for child development:

• Diversifying food options: Providing healthy and attractive alternatives to processed foods.
• Promoting better sleep: Avoid keeping children up late, as studies have shown that sleep disorders are linked to weight gain.
• Digital rationing: Reducing the hours spent sitting in front of screens and tablets.
• Physical stimulation: Encouraging children to engage in enjoyable physical activities.
• Food control: Limit consumption of sugars and fast food high in saturated fats.

Shocking figures: The Gulf exceeds global averages

The Health Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council revealed alarming statistics that call for immediate action, explaining that obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of fat that poses a serious health risk, and its rates have doubled globally since 1990. In a regional context, the Gulf region records obesity rates of up to 23.6% that far exceeds the global average of 12.9%

The data indicated that in 2022 more than 390 million children and adolescents around the world suffered from overweight, including 160 million who were obese, which puts the Gulf countries in front of a health challenge that requires the concerted efforts of the family, school and society.

Prevention prescription: Movement is the solution

To overcome this health crisis, the Gulf Health Council recommended adopting a balanced lifestyle that combines proper nutrition with physical activity. Medical recommendations emphasized the need for children and adolescents to engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, such as swimming, cycling, or brisk walking, to ensure calorie burning and the development of a strong physique capable of resisting disease.