Eat Well .....Live Long, Live Strong Says UAEU
H.E. Prof. Mohamed Yousif Baniyas, Provost of United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) inaugurated the annual event of Nutrition Education Week which was organized by College of Food and Agriculture at the new campus in Al Ain. Prof. Baniyas stressed, in his opening speech, the role of the college in disseminating the concepts of the nutrition culture and the importance of maintaining the environment and community health through changing the current nutrition habits, especially in children which may lead to obesity and will eventually require tough remedies. He also said that the role of the family and schools plays an important part in combating these obstacles.
Prof. Baniyas welcomed the participants and attendees on behalf of H.E. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Noaimi, UAEU Vice Chancellor, indicating that UAEU values the role of all participants of different entities and organizations participating in this event as well as experts headed by Dr. Lukas Manomaitis, President of Asian Pacific Chapter at World Aquaculture Society.
During his visit to the ‘Nutrition Exhibition’ held as part of this festival, Prof. Baniyas commended the participants, their products and posters which displayed the daily nutrition requirements for each age group.
A number of nutritionists and health experts were invited to present lectures and workshops with the participation and attendance of more than 10,000 female students. The experts highlighted the importance of changing the current nutrition habits, while highlighting some of the associated risks.
The Nutrition & Health Department displayed posters addressing obesity in childhood in addition to posters designed by schools from the Al Ain Education Zone. A team from the Nutrition & Health Department also conducted an analytical study of the research outcomes concerning confronting obesity and being overweight. Various athletic activities along with live healthy-cooking demonstrations by nutrition specialists also took place.
Prof. Ghaleb Alhadrami, Dean of College of Food and Agriculture, stressed the importance of coordinating efforts to counteract the rise of obesity, especially in children. He said, “The main reason behind the obesity phenomenon is represented by the unhealthy lifestyle resulting from an unbalanced nutrition diet among the children in particular, and the lack of knowledge about the harmful side effects.”
Prof. Alhadrami indicated that the findings of this event will contribute significantly to monitoring the related risk factors through setting and executing general strategies in nutrition and health and employing the proper approach to adjust attitude and change related to nutrition habits for all community members.
