BeautyQu: Young labourers falling prey to lifestyle diseases

Feb 24, 2016

Young labourers falling prey to lifestyle diseases – Khaleej Times

75% of them unaware of their poor healthiness condition as a result of lack of regular healthiness checks, finds study.

A higher number of young male migrant workers from South Asia are making hypertension, obesity and cardiac troubles after adopting the UAE lifestyle especially those that have actually been in the country for over 6 years, a study has actually found.

The initial population-based study among migrant workers done in the country additionally finds that drivers, shopkeepers, salesmen and construction workers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh had the highest levels of blood stress while agriculture workers had the lowest BP levels.

Diabetes was found to be highest in hotel and hospitality industry workers and was attributed to availability of free food, said Syed Mahboob Shah, Associate Professor, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and healthiness Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University.

The Risk Segment

>Drivers, shopkeepers, sales-men and construction workers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were found to have actually the highest levels of blood stress and obesity levels

> On average, a South Asian was found to suffer from a heart attack at 48 years as compared to an Emirati at 61 years and others Arab nationals at 53 years

> Diabetes was highest in hotel and hospitality industry workers and was attributed to availability of free food

> A switch from whole grains and pulses to a lot more refined sources of carbohydrate along along with increased consumption of soft drinks was among the reasons for weight gain

Dr Syed conducted the questionnaire-based study among 1,375 workers (standard age of 34 years) in Abu Dhabi between 2012 and 2013. The standard monthly income of those surveyed was Dh1,828 and 68 per cent had migrated from rural villages.

The study findings suggest a diminished ‘Healthy and balanced Migrant Effect’ along with increased years of residency because of a transition in lifestyle behaviours.

“At least 75 per cent of them were unaware of their healthiness condition as a result of lack of regular healthiness checks as compared to 99 per cent of Emiratis that are screened for lifestyle diseases,” said Dr Shah

As lots of as 559 Bangladeshis, 433 Indians and 383 Pakistanis and were asked questions related to non-communicable disease (NCDs) in the study that was published in the BioMed Central healthiness diary last year.

It was found that 616 (44 per cent) of those surveyed became over weight within 10 years of their continue to be in the UAE, and 16 per cent were obese, especially those that were involved in sedentary occupations (75 per cent among drivers, 86.7 per cent among shop keepers and businessmen, 70.6 per cent among tailors).

Hypertension was present in 419 (30 per cent) of the sample and diabetes in 9 per cent of the sub-sample.

“About 65 per cent of the UAE population is economic migrants from the reasonable and middle income countries of South Asia that have actually adopted the cultural lifestyle of the high-income host country UAE,” explained Dr Shah.

Changes in diet regimen along with a substantial improve in overall energy and fat consumption because of the accessibility and availability of energy-dense meals and snacks were among the reasons for the increasing healthiness issues. Moreover, a switch from whole grains and pulses to a lot more refined sources of carbohydrate along along with increased consumption of soft drinks was additionally among the top reasons.

“South Asian populations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal) contribute to the highest proportion of the burden of cardio diseases compared along with any others region globally,” said Dr Syed.

On an average, a South Asian will certainly suffer from a heart attack at the age of 48 as compared to an Emirati at 61 years and others Arab nationals at 53 years,” said the doctor.

“There is an urgent should produce screening programmes for this group of workers due to the fact that this is placing burden on the healthcare system,” said Dr Shah. “In Canada, every pharmacy offers blood stress checks … this Can easily be done easily here, too.”

He additionally recommended inclusion of blood pressure, height and physique mass measurements in medical screening examinations at the time of obtaining or renewing a residency visa for expatriates living in the UAE.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com