Experts call for year-round commitment as DFC ends

As the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) wraps up its month of citywide activities, health experts are reminding residents that the benefits of the initiative depend largely on what happens after the event ends.

Dubai-based nutritionist and fitness trainer Viktor Ristic noted that while the campaign encourages people to get moving, long-term consistency remains the key driver of overall well-being.

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"The question isn’t what you achieved in 30 days, it’s what you continue doing for the next 300," Ristic said. "Movement is not a one-month project. It’s a biological requirement."

Ristic explained that regular physical activity supports cardiovascular health, stabilises blood sugar and preserves muscle mass, all of which contribute to stronger long-term health outcomes. These benefits, he stressed, come from steady habits rather than short-lived or high-intensity efforts.

He also cautioned against adopting overly restrictive diets once the challenge concludes. "People try to overhaul their entire lifestyle overnight. They cut out sugar, remove oils, avoid traditional foods, but this level of restriction isn’t sustainable," he said. "Extreme approaches backfire. Small, realistic steps are what truly work."

He emphasised the importance of being mindful of fat quality and selecting sources that offer nutritional benefits alongside energy. Ristic explained that palm oil, for example, contains carotenoids, tocopherols and tocotrienols — compounds known for their antioxidative, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties.

Ristic also added that no single ingredient is solely responsible for health problems, urging residents to focus on broader eating patterns, daily movement and overall lifestyle choices. "Demonising ingredients while ignoring inactivity is missing the bigger picture," he said.

He encouraged residents to continue incorporating daily walking, strength training and balanced meals, noting that sustainable habits allow people to enjoy a wide range of foods while maintaining good health.

With the campaign now concluded, Ristic hopes the month can serve as a reminder, not an endpoint. "The real win isn’t what you did in November, it’s what you keep doing in December, January, next Ramadan, next summer and every ordinary day in between," he said. "Consistency is the real challenge and the real solution."