Canadian Specialist Hospital encourages healthy eating habits

Canadian Specialist Hospital (CSH), one of the largest private hospitals in Dubai catering to the tertiary health care needs of the Middle East, held a seminar for the primary students and teachers of Delhi Private School, Sharjah, on the importance of healthy eating habits. The hospital organized the lecture in observance of the rising number of cases of overweight and obese children in the region. 

Children and students took advantage of the insights and guidance from Dr. Nabeela Shafqat, Clinical Nutritionist at CSH, who highlighted some of the contributing factors as well as necessary measures that parents and teachers can take to prevent obesity in children. The teachers also benefited from a free blood sugar, blood pressure and BMI checkup at the school clinic. 

Dr. Nabeela Shafqat focused on the necessity of forming healthy eating habits in growing children: “The UAE is one of the 40+ countries with a high rate of obesity and people who are overweight. Obesity rates in the Gulf region range between 10% to 15% among children in primary schools, 15% to 30% in students at the intermediate level and 20% to 40% in students at the secondary level, according to statistics from a recent report of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The lifestyle in UAE is conducive to eating junk and unhealthy food from a very young age. Parents and teachers play an important role in developing and influencing a balanced and tasteful diet for children.” said Dr. Shafqat. 

She added, “Fruits and vegetables, whole-grains and bread, eggs, meat or beans, milk and dairy foods are all essential components of a child’s diet. Breakfast is the most important meal because it provides the fuel children need for school and play during the early part of the day. Lunches and snacks are also important to kids: pack a lunch for them or guide them on what to choose at the school canteen. Growing children also need the extra calories that snacks provide. Some of the options for a healthy snack include soy milk, fresh fruit, soybean curd, low-fat yoghurt, low sugar biscuits and bread buns. Parents should be informed about the right size and nutritional value of each meal and should not force children to overeat. Also, if you know your child dislikes the meal you plan to serve, serve at least one food she likes and try to involve her in food preparation.” 

Ms Mousumi Dasgupta, Sr Headmistress, DPS Sharjah said “At DPS we always encourage children to develop healthy habits. Children are encouraged to bring wholesome, home cooked food for their break time. The school canteen also offers a nutritious menu. We let them imbibe the habit and taste of healthy food throughout their stay in school. In fact, recently we had Grade II children making a friendship salad – a healthy concoction of fruits with each fruit depicting a trait of friendship! 

We are thankful to the Canadian Specialist Hospital for helping us reinforce our belief that good eating habits picked up when young will help them maintain a healthy lifestyle when they are adults. It was also a nice gesture by them to conduct free checkup for the staff.”