Here is how UAE residents want to lose weight

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Here is how UAE residents want to lose weight

Dubai - Research shows that almost half of UAE residents are currently looking to lose weight as part of their goal for 2019.

By Staff Report

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Published: Mon 18 Feb 2019, 10:56 AM

Last updated: Mon 18 Feb 2019, 3:00 PM

The UAE is encouraging people to become fit and sustain a healthy lifestyle by offering incentive programmes, setting up free weight care centres, and introducing fitness challenges to the region.
In light of this, new YouGov research shows that almost half (48 per cent) of UAE residents are currently looking to lose weight as part of their goal for 2019.
The study finds that just under three in ten (28 per cent) are happy to maintain their current weight while one in seven (14 per cent) are looking to bulk up. The remaining 10 per cent do not have any weight goals. Women are notably more likely than men to be prioritising losing weight (59 per cent to 42 per cent) while the opposite is true when it comes to bulking up, where one in six men (16 per cent) want to bulk up compared to one in eleven women (9 per cent).
Among those with a weight goal, the most popular path to achieving it is through diet and exercise (43 per cent). One in four (26 per cent) plan to only use exercise while one in five (20 per cent) will just try to hit their target through changing their diet. The remainder will either use other solutions such as pills or protein shakes (2 per cent) or are currently unable to do anything towards their goal (8 per cent). YouGov's data shows that men are more likely to prefer exercising (30 per cent vs 19 per cent), while women are more inclined towards diets (24 per cent vs 18 per cent).

Among those exercising regularly in order to achieve their body goals, running is the most popular activity (38 per cent), followed by brisk walking (37 per cent) and exercising at gym (36 per cent). However, the research reveals there are notable differences between the genders. While men are more likely to run (42 per cent vs 30 per cent), women are more likely to walk briskly (45 per cent vs 33 per cent).

For those trying to manage their weight through their diet, half (50 per cent) rely on their own knowledge and follow a diet which they know is good for their body. The other approaches people take are to follow a trending Internet diet (29 per cent), do one suggested by a friend (23 per cent), adhere to a diet recommended by an expert (22 per cent), or purely keep tabs on what they eat to make sure they eat healthily (19 per cent).
Speaking about this, Kerry McLaren, Head of YouGov Omnibus, said, "With the various health initiatives being promoted in the UAE, it is clear that weight issues are a real concern among residents. Our research shows that most people have some sort of body goal - whether it be to lose weight, bulk up, or just maintain their current condition. Across the board men and women differ both in terms of what they are hoping to achieve and how they plan to execute it."
-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com


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