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Doha, Qatar: HE Abdullah bin Nasser bin Turki Al Subaie, Chairman of the Health, Public Services, and Environment Committee of the Shura Council affirmed that obesity among children is a critical health issue requiring concerted national efforts and enhanced coordination among various stakeholders, given its far-reaching health, social, and economic consequences.
In a statement following today's Shura Council regular session, during which the Council reviewed the Health, Public Services, and Environment Committee's report on the request for a general debate submitted by several members regarding childhood obesity in Qatar, His Excellency explained that the Committee has given this issue special attention.
The Committee held several meetings to study it, reviewed the views of relevant authorities, data, and studies, and hosted a number of officials and representatives from concerned bodies to assess the reality of the phenomenon, the challenges associated with it, and to explore ways to curb its spread.
He noted that the committee, based on its findings, concluded with a set of key areas aimed at supporting efforts to prevent childhood obesity, promote healthy lifestyles, enhance awareness and monitoring programs, and leverage modern technological solutions for follow-up and awareness campaigns. This, he explained, will contribute to improving health indicators and enhancing quality of life.
His Excellency emphasized that addressing obesity is a shared responsibility requiring integrated roles among families, educational institutions, health authorities, and the community. He stressed the importance of continuing collaborative efforts to instill healthy habits in young people and promote health awareness.
He expressed his hope that the council's proposed recommendations will support existing national efforts to reduce obesity and promote healthy lifestyles, positively impacting community health and quality of life, and contributing to building healthier generations capable of contributing to the national development process.
