Physical Activity And Risk Factors

Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, is the Economy Minister of UAE believed that the country is in progress of gaining the benefits of its policy of economy diversification. This policy helped the country to move from the dependency on one sector i.e. oil sector to depending on various sectors. From last few years the economy of the nation is growing positively. The economy now is determined through its own aspects, whereas its efficiency basis is durable, strong and diversified (Khaleej Times. 2015).

Physical fitness of the work force in UAE is an opportunity such as it helps in managing the lifestyle of the employee as hectic schedule do not allow him to invest time in the gym so work place is the best place to adopt the healthy habits. On the other side to maintain the physical fitness of the older workers is a challenge. Family members, shareholders, community, employees and whole society is affected directly or indirectly by the workforce physical fitness level (Pronk, 2015). Physical fitness has relations with the positive health results, with declining risk for unnecessary deaths and long-lasting circumstances such as type 2 diabetes, back pain, cancers, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, as well as less health maintenance expenditure, efficiency loss, absence, temporary disability, and lost workdays and improved mood and performance of the work (Sport and Dev. 2017).

Fitness is also related with non-health related aids, such as increase in the income of the person as well as his/her family, decreased debt, decrease in the number of unemployment, decrease turnover rate, satisfaction of the job and enrollment and workers retention. Security of the nation is enhanced due to fitness of the particular occupational groups such as law enforcement, firefighters and military as safety is a societal benefit (Health Galaxy. 2016). The workers will be more active due to full-time employment. Full-time employment amongst men, was completely related with physical movement stages irrespective of being in a sitting or desk job as compared to persons who did not work. Among women, though, persons in sitting full-time jobs were considerably less active compared to their nonworking colleagues. However, women with active jobs were approximately 30% extra active throughout the week compared to those with sitting jobs and similarly approx. 22% of men were noted (Pronk, 2015).

Company is benefited due to the fitness of its workforce in the matter of its business performance and people’s health. This benefit indicates towards the better economic wealth for an progressively group of people and adds to the mutual resource pool, allowing groups to participate more in other macro societal factors of health such as governance, infrastructure, education, mass media, culture, migration, etc. – several of these are serious for the success of a business and all of them are critical for health (Drevits, 2015). Such investments generate good jobs, rise housing worth and upkeep global, national and local competitiveness. Therefore, fitness of the workforce is very important for their companies, family, communities and to themselves and hence to be taken as a corporate asset to be concurrently sheltered and encouraged.

Health services of UAE

Several emerging countries are struggling against hunger and poor health. Spending on health has been considered as investment in human wealth. Economic development and health has a reciprocal relation (Frenk, 2017). To improve the health of the people Economic development policies are very important. Good health donates to development of economy. Good health is considered to be a basic need of human and is an important goal. The potential of human increases with the good health and improves the quality of work. Therefore, programs of health main aim is to eliminate illness and death and to deliver sufficient hygiene, health care and nutrition.

According to the estimations approx. 99 percent of the UAE population had access to use the health facilities, approx. 95 percent had approached to safe water and hygiene facilities are accessed by 77 percent of the population (Shihab, 2017). The aim of health policies of UAE Government is to provide different facilities and at program’s implementing is aimed at progressing the service level and providing the education of health in UAE. They have initiated precautionary medical programs like ‘mother and child health care’, vaccination and immunizations for children, observing and noticing of infectious diseases, and health informative programs. In addition, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of UAE offers medical centres for school going children, to all the units of health for children in every school throughout the UAE. Qualified nurses with equipment’s of first aid are also provided by these units. According to the population of UAE doctors, hospitals, nurses and beds are available throughout the UAE. Generally, in UAE health facilities are distributed evenly (Abed & Hellyer, 2001).

Companies of UAE are working towards creating an environment of happier and healthier through different social and sports activities. The Ras Al Khaimah which is a free trade zone has launched a program of wellness and fitness for its 370 employees, providing different workshops for volleyball and yoga with healthy breakfast (Swan, 2012). According to the deputy director general Maryam Al Murshedi Al Shehhi, people are their main asset. Business cannot be maintained without a happy and healthy staff, otherwise they will be considered as a machine. A good product cannot be produced without a good machine. Even, the doctors’ week was offered by the company to its staff where they learnt about prevention from diseases, skincare and cosmetic treatments. Afterward, smoking cessation and weight loss campaigns will be held and daily health food will be offered that will include cereal, yogurt and fruit. Further, Simple changes were asked from the employees like drinking water. Normally, people do not drink enough water which is required when they sit in an office, but this habit does not only effect the health of the people but their morale too.

The UAE is counted in one of the wealthy country, it is because of its resources of oil and its population base. The above essay proves that the fitness of the workforce and the growth of the economy are related. If workforce will not be fit then they will not give their best in the work and will definitely affect the profit of business and overall the economy of the UAE country. Eventually, if people will be fit it will not only benefit the economy of UAE but also the family of the individual.

References

Abed, I & Hellyer, P. (2001). United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective. Trident Press Ltd.

Drevits, T. (2015). The Five Benefits of Workplace Fitness Culture. Retrieved from: https://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/worksite-wellness/five-benefits-workplace-fitness-culture/

Frenk, J. (2017). Health and the economy: A vital relationship. Retrieved from: https://oecdobserver.org/news/archivestory.php/aid/1241/Health_and_the_economy:_A_vital_relationship_.html

Health Galaxy. (2016). Benefits of physical fitness. Retrieved from: https://www.health-galaxy.com/benefits-of-physical-fitness.html

Khaleej Times. (2015). UAE economy is strong, sustainable: Al Mansoori. Retrieved from: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/government/uae-economy-is-strong-sustainable-al-mansoori

Pronk, N.P. (2015). Why does fitness matter? Retrieved from: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031914-122714

Shihab, M. (2017). Economic Development in the UAE. Retrieved from: https://www.uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/pdf/perspectives/12.pdf

Sport and Dev. (2017). Sport, physical activity and risk factors for major diseases. Retrieved from: https://www.sportanddev.org/en/learn-more/health/sport-physical-activity-and-risk-factors-major-diseases-0

Swan, M. (2012). UAE companies work towards happy, healthy workforce. Retrieved from: https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/wellbeing/uae-companies-work-towards-happy-healthy-workforce-1.386887