Fat kids in Dubai

Child obesity, depression among under 12s… Dubai can seriously damage young children’s health Discuss this article

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Here’s a scary statistic: an estimated one in 33 children under 12 suffers from significant depression in the UAE. It’s just one concern among a long list of health problems peculiar to kids in the emirates. One in five children suffers from asthma, childhood obesity is on the increase, and a whopping 80 per cent of the UAE population – children and adults alike – are affected by preventable tooth decay. Why is the UAE such an unhealthy place for kids?

Well, it’s not so much the place as the expat lifestyle. The same issues that affect expat adults – bad diet, lack of exercise, work stresses – are affecting their children too. But, as Time Out discovers, the best ways to improve your child’s wellbeing also bring the family closer together. Two birds, one stone, and healthier, happier families. We likey.

Battling bad diets

Caroline Kanaan, a nutritionist at the Advanced Nutrition Centre in Dubai Healthcare City, says bad eating habits are being passed on to kids by their parents. ‘It’s very much part of the culture here – ordering junk food all the time for delivery, lack of time to cook at home,’ she tells Time Out. ‘If both parents are working, it’s tough to always come back home and prepare healthy meals. If the parents are finding it difficult to take care of themselves, then it will be more difficult for them to take care of their kids as well.’

The sooner you introduce a healthy diet to your children, the better. ‘The more cooking you do at home, the more you’re in direct control of what your child is eating, and the healthier your child will be,’ says Kanaan. Cook up a nutritious treat and sit down to eat it as a family. Not only will your kids learn to follow your good example, but you’ll be spending more quality time together too.