Children’s health at risk as obesity rates in Kuwait soar to 77.9%

• Obesity has become a major health issue in Kuwait, with 77% of the population overweight and 40% obese, making it the highest in the Arab world.

Obesity has emerged as one of Kuwait’s most pressing health issues in recent years. With 77 percent of the population classified as overweight and 40 percent suffering from obesity, Kuwait now holds the highest obesity rate in the Arab world, according to Al Jarida newspaper.

Statistics show that 77.9 percent of people in Kuwait are overweight. Additionally, the obesity rate among children, ranging from 23 to 26.9 percent for those aged 5 to 19, highlights the severity of the issue. The increasing obesity rate among children is particularly alarming, as it poses a significant threat to the health of future generations.

Several factors contribute to the rising obesity rates in Kuwait, including a lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, and the impact of genetic factors. A sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary choices have played a major role in this crisis.

While genetics can account for up to 50 percent of obesity risk, lifestyle factors such as inactivity and unhealthy eating habits remain the leading contributors.

Japan’s success in combating obesity

Countries like Japan have succeeded in tackling obesity, with an obesity rate of just four percent. This success is attributed to cultural practices, such as shokuiku (food education), which promotes healthy eating habits and physical activity from an early age.

In Japanese schools, children are taught to make healthy food choices and engage in regular exercise, helping to establish lifelong healthy habits.

Combating chronic diseases

In Kuwait, physical education and nutrition education should be central to the school curriculum. Currently, public schools allocate only two physical education classes per week at the primary level and one class at the middle and secondary levels.

The Ministry of Health has stressed the need to increase these hours to help combat chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, which are closely linked to inactivity.

Physical education is an essential life skill

Physical education should not be viewed merely as a sports lesson but as an essential life skill. By effectively integrating it with nutritional education, we can reduce obesity rates and achieve positive health outcomes.

Promoting physical activity

The solutions lie in our hands: raising health awareness, improving school meals, and encouraging regular exercise among children and young people. We need a comprehensive strategy to promote physical activity and better eating habits in Kuwait, ensuring better health for future generations. It is crucial that we take responsibility for our health and the future of our youth.