Poor eating habits and unhealthy life style
affecting majority; situation less alarming among the Filipino men
A study
has brought out shocking life style of both Filipino men and women living in
the country.
According
to a leading health expert, one in ten Filipino women living in the UAE is
diabetic.
However,
the situation is less alarming among the male compatriots, said Asjad Hameed, a
leading consultant in Endocrinology in the capital.
Prevalence
is much higher among Filipino women because of their lifestyle and eating
habits.
"They
do little exercise compared with their male compatriots," Dr Hameed told
Khaleej Times.
In a
similar study, Dubai's Medical City, the Philippines' largest healthcare
network that recently partnered with Sama Medical Services for its UAE and Gulf
expansion, revealed the top ailments affecting the Filipinos include
hypertension and cardiovascular diseases; type 2 diabetes; high cholesterol and
high uric acid.
Many of
them suffer from respiratory illnesses and acute gastroenteritis and peptic
ulcer also.
Although
heredity is not ruled out as a factor, the diseases are mainly related to
lifestyle, The Medical City said on Wednesday.
"A
person should be particularly careful to limit his intake of highly processed
meat, such as meatloaf or sausage. A lot of our patients consume such food in
large amounts but do not do anything to counter the negative effects,"
said Dr Marissa Joson, Cardiologist, The Medical City.
"Majority
of Filipino women in the UAE either eat out or order food numerous times a
week. Finger chips served with fried meat are commonly found in fast food
meals.
"Potato
is best consumed baked, not fried," Joson said.
The
prevalence of respiratory illnesses is tied to excess weight, and long period
of time spent in a stale air-conditioned environment.
Dr Rene
Borromeo, surgeon at The Medical City, Dubai, said: "Excess weight
definitely has an impact on lung physiology. If someone already has asthma, it
becomes harder to treat it if the person also puts on a significant amount of
weight."
Dr
Rebecca Desiderio, CEO for GCC, The Medical City, advised people to avoid these
chronic conditions by doing regular cardio exercises such as running, cycling,
walking and swimming.
"Balance
the takeaway and fast food meals with regular consumption of fresh fruits and
vegetables," she said.
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