In an article published in the National, the idea that children who are obese could in fact have a shorter life expectancy than their parents was nothing more than a serious wake-up-call.  With 60% of New Yorkers overweight or obese, the article focuses on Manhattan and new ideas that may be introduced to tackle the obesity epidemic, such as taxing sugary drinks. Although the Government has already banned smoking in public places, prohibited restaurants from using trans fats and forced fast-food restaurants chains to post calorie counts on its menus, the idea of the government imposing further regulation on businesses has provoked mixed reactions amongst businesses. In the UAE, obesity levels are just as alarming with 12% of the country’s children overweight and another 22% susceptible to obesity due to a lack of exercise and poor diet. In recent months, a three-month publicity drive, The Fat Truth, was spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Who is to blame for the high levels of obesity? The Media for portraying images of stick thin celebrities, The Government, Businesses, or is it us? Are we to blame for putting the high fat, low calorie junk food into our and our children’s mouths day after day?

SOURCES
The National - Teachers and Doctors call for obesity screening in schools read full article here
The National - City to dish out second helping of food reform read full article here