DOHA: The Qatar Diabetes Association is set to host a Diabetes Prevention Camp for 33 overweight teenage girls with a first degree family history of diabetes.
The ‘Eat Healthy and Move More’ camp, will open today and continue until Saturday at the Qatar Diabetes Association premises, will educate the adolescents about diabetes prevention through positive lifestyle changes.
Aimed at introducing the young population at risk of diabetes to healthy living, the camp is designed to be a fun and interactive educational experience. Throughout the three days, campers will attend educational sessions and participate in group activities that include group cooking sessions and nutritional team building activities. As well as swimming, Zumba and aerobics classes, and living skills and mind mapping workshops.
Dr Abdullah Al Hamaq, the Executive Director of Qatar Diabetes Association, said: “The aim of the ‘Eat Healthy & Move More’ camp is to equip youths with the necessary tools to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.”
“In addition to offering a fun camping experience, the camp will also provide instruction on the importance of nutrition, physical activity and self-esteem. I would also like to thank the parents for their enthusiasm and support of this initiative that encourages a positive attitude about weight loss in young girls,” he added.
The Qatar Diabetes Association, which is a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, is at the forefront of efforts in Qatar, and the Middle East, to promote the prevention, care and management of diabetes.
The association’s work has gained ground in recent years due to the dramatic increase in the incidences of obesity and diabetes in Qatar, the Middle Eastern region, and the rest of the world.
Camp Manager, Noura Hadeed Al Ibrahim, said: “The Qatar Diabetes Association team will focus on the development of the personal skills of the girls to motivate them into using mind mapping techniques to draw their own healthy lifestyle information in diagrams.”
“After their time at the camp, the girls will also be able to consciously adopt healthy behaviours that will help them reach their weight loss goals and prevent them from developing diabetes,” she added.
The Peninsula
