Diabetes association gives healthy holiday eating tips

Saudi Gazette report DAMMAM — About 71 percent of deaths in the Kingdom are caused by diabetes, obesity and heart ailments, said Dr. Kamil Salama, secretary-general of the Saudi Diabetes and Endocrine Association. These diseases also cause disability, he added. He said Saudi Arabia has been ranked seventh globally in the percentage of patients afflicted by these diseases. A recent report published by World Health Organization advanced its position to number three after Qatar and Kuwait having the world’s highest rates of obesity. “A research conducted by King Saud University in Riyadh has found that three-fourth of the Kingdom’s population is suffering from obesity,” said Salama, adding that 70 percent Saudi males and 75 percent of Saudi females are obese. He said more than 80 percent of type two diabetes patients are obese. Salama urged the public, especially young Saudi men and women, to reduce intake of fast food that contains a lot of cholesterol, salt and oil and lacks basic ingredients for nutrition. “People have to make changes in their food habits and lifestyle,” the association said in a statement on the occasion of the beginning of school vacation. It issued the warning as the consumption of various types of junk food by youngsters increases during the school vacation. The association emphasized that fast food harms children as well as the elderly, making them prone to obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, brain hemorrhage and certain types of cancer. “This situation has encouraged many countries to make drastic changes in preparation of fast food as they reduce oil content by 20 percent. They prepare chicken burger after removing the skin and without putting salt. They also cut down the fat content in cheese to 10-20 percent,” Salama said, quoting the association's statement. He advised people to reduce the intake of fried potato chips, chicken and fish and depend largely on barbecued food instead. The association asked the public to eat more fruit and vegetable salads to have a balanced diet and reduce the use of beverages. The use of fresh fruit juice or mixed vegetable juice, low fat milk and yoghurt will help increase calcium and vitamin-D levels while they cut down salt levels in the body. This will help bring down blood pressure. The association urged fast food outlets to reduce the use of margarine, hydrogenated fat and animal grease.