Qatar has been quite serious when it comes to the health of people living in the country. A healthy lifestyle is encouraged with the organisation of special events like the National Sports Day.

However, a recent survey, done by Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), gives us reasons to be concerned.

Findings in the report states that around 43% of total students who participated in a growth monitoring programme were found to be overweight or obese. While 21.2% were overweight, 21.5% were obese, reported Gulf Times.

Combined overweight and obesity prevalence was 44.8% and 40.4% among males and females, respectively, and 45.6% and 40.9% among Qatari and non-Qatari students, respectively.

The results were from the growth-monitoring programme for school students between 5 to 19 years for the academic year 2015-2016.

The programme surveyed 164,963 students from 296 private and government schools, and was implemented in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Primary Health Care Corporation and Hamad Medical Corporation.

The highest prevalence of obesity and heaviness was found among Qatari males (47.3%) followed by Qatari females (44%), non-Qatari males (43.5%) and non-Qatari females (38.3%). The highest prevalence of heaviness and obesity was seen among 10 to 14 year-olds, according to Qatar Tribune.

Dr Shaikha Al Anoud bint Mohammed Al Thani, manager of health promotion and non-communicable diseases at MoPH said that the results were helpful in supporting and strengthening existing public health programmes and policies.

She said the programme to monitor the growth of school students in Qatar between 5 and 19 years is considered as a part of the National Action Plan for Nutrition and Physical Activity 2017-2022.