Big weekend events in Dubai often fall into one of two categories: music or food. Yet when you’re still trying to take it easy on the junk food and drinking, both are likely to sabotage your resolutions. So it’s good news that next weekend’s biggest event is the two-day Dubai Weight Loss Show, kicking off on Friday February 1 at Dubai International Marine Club.

Last year’s event enticed 6,000 attendees to try classes, watch demonstrations and listen to talks on a variety of health and weight-related topics. Even better news for your post-festive funds is that the weekend is free to attend, and every exhibitor will offer discounts and special deals on their services to attendees who sign up there and then. Here, we take a look at exactly what’s on offer to help you slim down and tone up.

The classes
Several of Dubai’s fitness big guns will be hosting free demonstrations and classes over the weekend. Friday features TRX classes from the MeFitPro team, a yoga demonstration and Zumba demonstration from Fitness First, combat from new kid on the block TribeFit, a ‘kongo fitness’ session from DanceFit, a dance class from MoveYa, and a 10-minute abs and core-burner class from Bernacise Me. Saturday will host another full day of activities, featuring tribal bootcamp from TribeFit, the Les Mills Grit Series from MeFit Pro and Zumba cardio from DanceFit. There will also be a Sh’bam class from MeFitPro: the dancercise class arrived in Dubai last year, and its popularity is currently soaring in the UK.

The seminars
A series of informative, useful and, most importantly, accessible talks will be held at the show. Among the many and varied topics will be talks on the importance of a low-sodium diet, how to become a food label detective, the consequences of obesity on health and alternative weight-loss therapies. Bernacise Me’s Bernadette Abraham will also be addressing whether organic food is a waste of money, while Atlas Spinal Centre’s Dr Tod Cahill will speak on overcoming chronic back pain, which is often associated with excess weight-bearing. Many attendees may also find Dr Sasa Janjanin of Dubai London Clinic’s talk interesting, discussing thyroid gland disorders and how they affect weight loss. For the uninitiated, there will also be introductory talks covering the very basics of weight loss and getting healthy.

The highlights
This year’s event will have two major highlights. The first is the Lenovo Yogathon, a two hour session by Bharat Artistic Yoga. This particular discipline of yoga has been described by the event’s organisers as ‘innovative, dynamic and powerful’, and apparently affects the body ‘like no other form of exercise’. It combines ancient yoga techniques with cardio training and passive stretching, and is designed to work the body at every level. Second on the agenda is the Zumba Party, for which the exact details are being kept under wraps. What we do know is that organisers are inviting attendees to ‘ditch the workout and join the party’ during the free session, which takes place on Saturday from 3pm until 5pm.

The extras
Within both the exhibition and ‘good eats’ zones, visitors will be able to peruse everything from supplements to new fitness equipment. Exhibitors will be able to offer advice on different weight-loss solutions and packages and provide information on medical concerns, while many will also be selling fitness and health accessories and services. There will be discounts offered across many of the stands, so even if you’re already educated and know what you’re looking for, the event will be a good place to seek out a better offer than those currently available day-to-day. For those in need of some ‘thinspiration’ on the culinary front, the ‘good eats’ area will host stands offering recipe and meal suggestions, diet products and nutrition advice. Meanwhile, Dubai’s fitness instructors, trainers and athletes will be able to put themselves to the test with the event’s fun fitness challenge, with prizes awarded to the winners. Finally, if your concerns are as much for your youngsters as yourself, the kids’ zone will be filled with educational games and activities, as well as healthy cooking stations and cooking competitions in which kids can take part.
Free. Friday February 1-Saturday 2, 10am-7pm. Dubai International Marine Club, www.weightlossshow.ae (04 367 8192).