Chinese Alternative Medicine Popular for Weight Control
Chinese Alternative Medicine Popular for Weight Control
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A crude population measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI), a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in metres). A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese. A person with a BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered overweight.
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Once considered a problem only in high income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings.
According to WHO obesity fact sheet, 65% of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.
In the U.K. adult obesity rates have almost quadrupled in the last 25 years with 22% of British people currently diagnosed as obese; in children the numbers have tripled over the last 20 years, of which 10% of six-year-olds and a rising 17% of 15-year-olds are suffering with obesity.
Obesity in the
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), obesity is also a growing health concern with health officials stating that it is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in the
In contrast, the obesity population is less than the western and middle-east counties. As a result, the finding alternative healing way for weight control are more and more popular now.
According to Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, Managing Director of the Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), "the healthcare of the future is a hybrid of conventional medicine and health and wellness centers." Around 90 outpatient centers are based in the DHCC. 2,500 licensed medical professionals work in the 2006-founded DHCC.
In order to lure more Chinese clinics to Dubai, DHCC Managing Director Dr. Abdullah and her team travel regularly to China and organize roadshows in order to present the advantages of the medical free zone, where 100 percent ownership is allowed and tax- freedom is guaranteed.
Emirati national are enthusiastic about the influx of alternative medical treatments and Traditional Chinese Medicine in their country. "I use a creme made of Chinese herbals against muscle pain and I am very happy with this product because it does not attack my skin," said Majood, an Emirati nurse who works in the DHCC. "I also regularly visit Chinese massage clinics because the treatment reduces stress and I feel the good effect on my whole body and mind."
Majida, a young Emirati lady who visited the forum for personal interests explained: "I trust the Chinese way of healing because products used are 100 percent natural and most Chinese people are slim and become very old which is a proof for their healthy way of life and eating." She added: "I would like to see more use of Chinese Traditional Medicine so that we can reduce obesity and diabetes in our country."
Commonly used Chinese herbal formulas for weight control:
I. For Both Men and Women
II. For Women with Menstrual Disorders
References: