A widespread sugar tax is being called for to reduce consumption of the obesity-causing food and to increase awareness of its dangers.
Sugary soft drinks and caffeine-laden energy drinks are to be taxed in the UAE from October 1 and while doctors back that they see it as a first step to the ultimate goal of a more all-encompassing tax on all sugar products.
They say the effects of sugar are as deadly and costly to rectify as smoking and global health figures last week showed that diet is now responsible for one in five deaths, with obesity, which is in part caused by high sugar intake, the fastest-growing global risk.
“I support a sugar tax, not because it would directly reduce sugar consumption but because the revenue generated could be used to educate the population about the dangers of sugar,” said Dr Ayman Soliman, a bariatric surgeon at NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi.
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Read more:
Science offers real sugar alternatives to help reduce obesity
Cigarettes and energy drinks to double in price
Sugar tax not the only answer
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“Such health problems need to be addressed via multiple angles.
“The taxes might not be able to decrease the popularity of unhealthy foods and beverages, as they are so freely advertised, so any form of tax should be accompanied with restrictions preventing junk food companies advertising to consumers, especially to minors without warning messages.”
Although refined sugar is not solely responsible for weight gain, it is a key component in the growing numbers of obese children, and early onset of diabetes.
Cases of bariatric surgeries on obese patients at NMC Royal Hospital have soared in the past year. The hospital has conducted 432 procedures related to weight in the past 12 months, with some patients as young as 13.
Lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes is being reported in some children at just 10 years old at Burjeel Hospital, where the world’s former heaviest woman, Egyptian Eman Abd El Aty, who once weighed 500kg, is receiving treatment.
“Children have a sweet tooth, so want to drink fruit juices and fizzy drinks,” said Dr Anita Gupta, a clinical dietician at Burjeel.
“It makes them put on weight and we are seeing the impact of this with younger patients with type 2 diabetes, who are also overweight.
“It is not just sugar but the type of sugar that is important. We prefer them to have more complex sugars, such as wholegrains and carbohydrate foods that contain sugar, but in a different form.
“I’ve seen children aged just 10 with type 2 diabetes, which was likely lifestyle-related.”
After consulting with parents to assess levels of sugar consumption, Dr Gupta makes an assessment of what dietary changes are required.
The usual advice is to wean children off sweet products altogether, as merely replacing refined sugar in fizzy drinks and confectionary with honey and other naturally sweetened products does nothing to reduce their cravings.
“Our idea is to cut children off the craving for sweet things altogether,” Dr Gupta said.
Dr Kavita Karnik is director of nutrition and innovation at Tate and Lyle, an international company once renowned for its sugar products. The UK company sold its EU sugar refining operations in 2010, and now focuses on healthier alternatives.
“As long as you are getting more calories than you consume, you will eventually become obese,” she said. “Sugar is a root of those calories. We concentrate on obesity but dental caries is also a major issue in children.
“Dental extractions in children in the UK are skyrocketing. That is sometimes overlooked by communities when considering the effect of sugar.
“People should be aware of what they are eating and realise there are choices, with no real difference in taste.
“Providing more choice can help wean people off sugar consumption and break that addiction.”
The World Health Organisation is offering support for countries that want to impose a sugar tax on manufacturers of sugary drinks. According to WHO, if retail prices of soft drinks are raised by 20 per cent, there would be a decrease in consumption and, consequently, a boost in people’s health.
Excise tariffs of 50 per cent will be placed on sugary drinks across the UAE from October, at a time when the International Diabetes Federation says that about 20 per cent of the population now has diabetes.
The American Heart Association advises that the maximum amount of sugar men can consume in a day is 150 calories, while for women it is up to 100 calories.
“Excessive amounts of sugar can age the body on a cellular level, which can have both short-term and long-term effects on health,” said Dr Sarla Kumari, a diabetologist at Canadian Specialist Hospital, Dubai.
“The sugar tax may reduce the consumption of soft drinks to some extent, however education and awareness on healthy lifestyle and impact of high sugar intake is essential.”
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
More on Quran memorisation:
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Match info
Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace
Man of the match: Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace)
Stamp%20duty%20timeline
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MATCH INFO
Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
