Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has confirmed its continuous efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of obesity and to provide plans and programs for specialists in this field to fulfil the strategy of the Ministry of Public Health to reduce the rate of obesity among children, adolescents and adults.

The Director of the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition at HMC Reem Al Saadi said, in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), that the patients are provided with personal programs and are followed regularly by the therapeutic nutritionist to achieve the best results, pointing to the efforts of the Diabetes Obesity and Metabolic Research Unit, and the specialized services provided for the treatment of obesity to help patients to reach and maintain healthy weight, especially with the high rate of obesity in Qatar.

Al Saadi said that the holy month of Ramadan is a valuable opportunity to follow a diet for weight loss, as the hours during which the fasting person can eat and drink are limited compared to normal days, and by controlling what a person is eating, one can adjust the amount of calories, which is reflected in weight loss.

Al Saadi stressed that having a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle during the month of Ramadan contributes to weight loss and reduce the risk of chronic diseases, as well as other many health benefits the most important of which are: contributing to weight loss, regulating blood sugar, controlling blood cholesterol, as well as controlling high blood pressure and eliminating accumulated toxins and regenerating cells.

For her part, Director of the Department of Clinical Nutrition at the Primary Health Care Corporation Moudhi Al Hajri stressed the importance of healthy eating habits during the month of Ramadan, with attention to the meal of Suhoor which is no less important than Iftar because it helps the body to fast and endure the hardships of fasting.

She said that some of the people do not care about the meal of Suhoor and focus on Iftar meals, while some cancel Suhoor meal, thinking that canceling it may reduce their weight or help them lose weight. This is a mistaken belief. This meal is of great importance to the body as it helps them to endure fasting the next day, without fatigue, exhaustion and hunger.

During the period of fasting, it is better to choose the right food, avoid unhealthy foods and those that can deprive us of eating other foods, she said, adding that those who fast should choose a healthy Iftar and nutritious soup as well as drink plenty of water.

While advising those who fast to drink lots of liquids, most importantly water, she pointed out that the meal of Suhour must consist of the full carbohydrates necessary for the body, including whole grain bread, cheese and dairy, a little olive oil, foods rich in good fats and vegetables, and a glass of milk, among others.

Source: Press release

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Binu Cherian

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