(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) yesterday launched the Qatar Dietary Guidelines that offer valuable insights and guidance for healthy eating. It features eight recommendations that discuss different tips for achieving an overall healthy lifestyle.
The recommendations are: eat healthy choices from six food groups; maintain a healthy weight; limit sugar, salt and fat; be physically active; drink plenty of water; adopt safe and clean food preparation methods; eat healthy while protecting environment and take care of the family.
The guidelines were released at the opening ceremony of a two-day conference under the patronage of the HE the Minister of Public Health Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani.
Dr Salih bin Ali al-Marri, assistant secretary general of medical affairs at SCH; Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, director of public health at SCH; Dr Tawfiq bin Ahmed Khoja, director general, Health Minister's Council for GCC States; Sheikha Dr Al-Anoud al-Thani, manager of health promotion and non-communicable diseases at SCH, and several other officials from health organisations were present on the occasion.
Launching the guidelines, Dr al-Marri said that one of the highest priorities in the Qatar National Health Strategy is advancing 'preventive healthcare', which addresses many aspects to changing behaviours relating to public health prevention measures. It was developed in response to the growing challenge of obesity and its associated diseases in Qatar.
"We are working with public and private organisations including representatives from the food industry. We also ensure that food items imported to Qatar are safe and hygienic. The dietary guidelines will help people understand what they should eat and avoid."
The official pointed out that the fundamental goal of the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Action Plan is to reduce the morbidity and mortality to chronic disease. The Qatar Dietary Guidelines were developed as a fundamental building block that supports and fosters healthy lifestyle behaviours.
"The development of the Qatar Dietary Guidelines aims to assist the public in choosing foods to stay healthy, avoid obesity and reduce disease. Guidance on healthy choices from the Qatar food groups as well as advice for families, weight control and many other recommendations have been developed by nutrition and health experts in Qatar led by SCH," he added.
Dr Mohamed al-Thani pointed out that non-communicable diseases were the major cause of deaths worldwide and the case was same in Qatar, accounting for 34.3% of total registered deaths in Qatar in 2013.
"Dietary intervention plays an important role in the prevention and management of non-communicable chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Primary causes of non-communicable diseases are excess intake of energy dense foods and a shortage of certain micronutrients in addition to physical inactivity. For these reasons, the Qatar Dietary Guidelines was developed to help prevent these diseases and promote health."
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