Dubai: In a unique bid to encourage people to pay attention to their growing waistlines, Dubai authorities have launched a "lose weight - win gold" campaign.
The drive has been launched, as a sort of contest, in the wake of overweight and obesity reaching epidemic levels among people here, Xinhua news agency reported.
Dubbed "Your Weight in Gold", the initiative was announced by Dubai Municipality's Director General Hussain Nasser Lootah in late July to promote healthy living in this city.
The official promised anyone losing two kilogramme of weight would get two gram of gold. In addition, three participants, who lost maximum weight, would get a gold coin worth 20,000 Dirham (about $5,450) through a lucky draw.
Hundreds of residents have signed up for the health contest.
According to a study, conducted by the United Arab Emirates' health ministry, almost 19 percent of males and 12 percent of females in the kingdom are overweight, while nearly 21.5 percent males and 19.5 percent females have turned obese.
Obesity is a common problem in oil-rich Gulf States where people increasingly depend on fast-food.
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
Food for poorSonia Gandhi's food bill blocked on Rajiv's birthday
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's pet welfare legislation, the Food Security Bill, that is expected to provide cheap staple food to two-thirds of the nation's population, could not be debated and passed in the Lok ...... More
Also Read: Key elements of food security scheme
Benazir Bhutto murder case:Musharraf chargesheeted in Benazir Bhutto's murder
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Pakistan Tuesday formally chargesheeted former president Pervez Musharraf in the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto...... More
Also Read: Court orders Musharraf be probed in Bhutto's murder
Sardar was proud of his Hindu heritage, though not deeply religious. However, his Hinduism was not narrow and he respected other religions. He had accepted the composite character of India. However, he ..... More
Assaad, who grew up in Lebanon, learnt to drive by the age of 13 and soon caught the eye of the country's education minister who helped secure her a scholarship to study medicine, reported..... More
