Rising global obesity levels to cost $47 trillion over the next two decades

Rising obesity rates are proving to be a weighty problem for the countries of the GCC as increasing levels of prosperity and sedentary lifestyles continue to take their toll on the health of their citizens. In fact, according to a recent study by the UN, populations in the countries of the region are among the world’ most overweight, with Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE among those worst affected.

The study estimated that rising obesity rates could cost the global economy as much as $47 trillion over the next two decades, due to loss of labour productivity and the growing costs incurred in treating resultant lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Estimated prevalence of obesity among women in 2013 stood at 58.6 per cent in Kuwait (third highest in the world), at 54.7 per cent in Qatar (sixth highest globally), 44.9 per cent in Saudi Arabia and 33.2 per cent in the UAE according to a recent report by medical journal Lancet.

Targeting the growing prevalence of obesity in society is therefore a matter of extreme urgency for both local health providers and governments in the region in order to prevent an epidemic of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, which is increasingly common among the GCC population today.

Upscale fitness and high-performance lifestyle leader, SPEED-FIT is taking aim at the obesity epidemic with a highly-efficient, targeted and effective weight loss programme, specially designed to meet the needs of individual body types and metabolisms, which is at the same time customised to obtain optimum and lasting results.

“Obesity is a condition that is both life-affecting and life-threatening and we have to treat it as seriously as we would any other grave illness,” said Mariam Mohammed Saeed Hareb, CEO of SPEED-FIT UAE. "The SPEED-FIT weight loss programme combines the benefits of exercise with an effective change in nutritional habits in order to bring about a lasting reduction in body fat levels. Our programme is highly individualised and is drawn up for each customer following an intensive programme of tests and evaluation by our panel of experts," she added.

SPEED-FIT's unique electromyostimulation training system enables clients to quickly and efficiently build up muscle mass and reduce body fat by increasing the metabolic rate in targeted workout sessions.

The SPEED-FIT weight loss programme effectively combines training sessions with a change in clients' nutritional habits. In the process, an individual nutritional protocol is developed on the basis of extensive blood analysis and anamnesis documentation.

By analyzing more than 40 blood levels, those foods that an individual's body can easily process are determined. With the right combination of foods and intake, the customer will thus lose weight without having to suffer hunger pangs, while still being able to indulge in some of their favorite treats.

The usual yo-yo effect that usually accompanies crash diets can be easily avoided in this case, as the SPEED-FIT weight loss programme is not a diet but rather a long term nutritional and fitness therapy that stimulates the various metabolic processes in the body.

SPEED-FIT offers potential customers interested in weight loss, an initial evaluation and a trial training session at their outlet in Jumeirah's Sunset Mall, to familiarise themselves with the system. Qualified trainers will personally mentor and guide each user to best achieve their weight loss goals.

SPEED-FIT has customisable fitness regimens and solutions for users with varying goals and needs. Backed by years of German research and technology, SPEED-FIT is able to deliver efficient solutions for a variety of customer needs. They offer programmes for a variety of customer goals including: strength-building, body-shaping, bodybuilding, both targeted and overall weight loss and recuperative needs.