(MENAFNEditorial) NMC Healthcare, the largest private healthcare provider across the UAE, has prescribed measures for the nation to live better following its launch of the country's first Health Index. The aim of the NMC Health Index, which is based on an in-depth study of residents' health, is to measure both wellness and sense of well-being among people of all ages in the country, and to better understand health concerns of the population.
Dr. BR Shetty, founder and Chief Executive Officer of NMC Healthcare, said: "These findings will surprise many people. UAE residents generally perceive themselves to be healthier than they actually are. Even though, as we would expect, most respondents said that having a healthy and active lifestyle was important to them, these results show there is a lot that can be done to improve actual wellness and well-being of UAE residents."
Physical health
The survey shows that 35% of the population exercises less than once per week, and one in five smokes tobacco (of whom a quarter smoke around a pack a day). It also demonstrates that more than half have a BMI (Body mass index) score in the overweight or obese range.
Respondents also indicated that only one in sixteen (6%) eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day, and 82% drink sugary or carbonated drinks every week.
Social health
71% of the people surveyed also consider their physical health to be a very important factor in their everyday life compared to time spent with their family (67%) and how much they earn (65%). Further more people in the UAE are most satisfied with how safe they feel and the fact that they can practice their religion (47%), while they are least satisfied by their jobs, the amount of stress they have at work, the conditions of their workplaces and their salary.
Emotional health
Half of those questioned made less than five hours a week available for leisure activities, and only half said they are getting the recommended 7-8 hours' sleep per night. A further 76% said they have felt anxious, worried or upset at least sometime in the past month.
The survey also highlights the fact that over three quarters of those questioned considered the UAE healthcare system better than in other countries, though over half still said that they would want to travel abroad for a planned operation.
The leading healthcare provider urged residents to make better health choices by avoiding junk food and improving their diets by eating healthier, along with increased exercise and physical exertion through walking and sports activities, which will help them improve their health scores.
Dr. Shetty added: "NMC has strong foundations in improving the health and well-being of the UAE community. Our pioneering work in the healthcare sector is something we are very proud of, and we feel it is our responsibility to not only provide high quality care, but also the necessary education around it about how to avoid illness and become and stay healthy. This study, which we aim to make a benchmark, makes an important contribution to the government's strategy for better health and well-being for the UAE's population in the future."
The study, carried out by Brunswick Insight, covered over 1,000 people of all ages and nationalities living in the UAE and measured their perceptions about their health and well-being against their actual lifestyles and behaviors. The findings show that many UAE residents believe they are healthier than their lifestyles would indicate.
The NMC Health Index is intended to be a barometer of a cross section of the population living in the UAE. Standardized on a 0-100 scale, with 100 representing the ideal well-being score, the average health score for the UAE is 65. This ranges from 69 for residents from the Indian sub-continent and 68 among Emirates nationals to 60 for Arab expatriates. The overall health index has been structured to measure health holistically and comprises three sub-indices, namely physical, social and emotional well-being of the individual.
Marwan Abedin, CEO of Dubai Healthcare City, commented on the occasion and said, "Globally, health indices help evaluate the quality of life over time, and when done right, these indices help correlate to health and safety policies and programs.
"In the UAE, health providers, policy makers and stakeholders are working together to improve the nation's health and safety. A health index can potentially be an indicator to correct unhealthy behaviours and assess programmes that need improvement. Whether the goal is to prevent illnesses or to reduce absenteeism in schools, there should be an evaluation tool. In this the NMC Health Index is well placed," Mr Abedin added.
The NMC Health Index was structured using quotas based on UAE government statistics to ensure that it reflected all age groups and nationalities, and an even gender balance. It is to be updated on an annual basis.
Full details of the NMC Health Index can be found at www.healthindex.ae. Visitors to this site will also be able to calculate their own health score and compare it to the UAE average.
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