Saleh Fareed

Saudi Gazette

 

BAHRAIN — It’s no secret that obesity in children is a growing problem in the GCC, brought about in part by the change in lifestyle that came along with the region’s rapid economic development.



Addressing this issue requires education and practical support, which is why Pankooshi’s resort in Bahrain is launching its first Health and Weight Loss Summer Boot Camp, specifically to teach children how to live healthier lives.



The program is dedicated to ensuring that children learn about maintaining a healthy lifestyle at a young age so that they can benefit from these habits throughout their lives.



“Many people don’t realize that the GCC is one of the top three regions of the world whose populations are most prone to type 2 diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes,” said Pankooshi’s founder Budoor Al Ansari.



“This is because after the discovery of oil, this region saw a rapid economic advancement that few in the world have ever seen.



“The result was a very swift move toward a more modern and easier way of life.



“People became richer, their jobs involved much less strenuous activity and as more and more people started to own cars, they walked less and ate much more,” she added.



The result, said Al Ansari, is an obesity epidemic, which is directly linked to the increase in incidence of diabetes.



Pankooshi’s aim, through this two-week boot camp, is to teach children how to reduce their weight and get into shape, and also how to maintain their weight for the rest of their lives.



The boot camp will be open to both boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 15. It will be held at Pankooshi’s exclusive resort at Durrat Al Bahrain.



“Although Pankooshi’s initially targeting overweight women, we saw that many of our clients’ children faced similar issues,” said Al Ansari.



“Our boot camp is very much an educational experience. We need to teach our children how to take care of their bodies. We need to get them interested in sports and show them what foods they should eat and what lifestyle choices they should avoid.”



Activities the children will take part in include:

 

• Self Defense / taekwondo workshops: 1 hour daily with instructor Sara Al Ansari, who has seven years of training experience and a black belt obtained in 2008 in Korea


• Art Therapy with UK qualified Art Therapist Dalal Al Sindi, who has six years of experience providing Art Therapy to adults and children with various difficulties, in UK, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.


• Cooking Classes, with a special emphasis on healthy diets, taught by Al Ansari herself


• Basketball, handball, volleyball, and yoga with qualified instructors
  
  
  
   

In addition to these, the children will also enjoy daily morning walks, health talks, cycling and many more fun activities.



“As well as being educational, the boot camp is going to be fun. We have instructors each qualified in their field and many other activities to enjoy,” said Al Ansari.



“In addition to improving their physical health, we want the experience to have a positive psychological impact as well.



“We want to show the children that healthy living is enjoyable. It will be like a vacation where they will make new friends and gain experiences that will help them throughout their lives. It’s the best possible gift you could give to your child,” she said. The boot camp will be held in three groups, from June 23 – July 6, August 11 – August 24, and August 25 – September 7. — SG