Dubai launches shed flab to win gold campaign

Not inspired enough to lose weight? Now shed flab to win gold.
The cash-rich Dubai Municipality is organising camps to inspire thousands of people here to lose weight and win gold at the same time under its 'Your Weight in Gold' campaign.
The civic body is organising 'Open Day' camps at three different venues with the first camp held yesterday at Safa Park, followed by a camp at Zabeel Park tomorrow and a camp at Mamzar Beach Track on Friday.
The camps will be complete with facilities for outdoor exercise and sports activities.
Private firms that provide services for losing weight have also been kept on hand to help. This is to encourage participants not to crash diet just to win some gold.

People who lose one to five kilogrammes will get one gramme of gold for each kilo they lose. Those who lose five to 10 kg will get two grammes of gold for each kilo lost while those who shed more than 10 kgs will get three grams of gold per kilo shed.

"During these open days, participants will have a chance to have different kinds of medical check-ups as well as participate in diverse kinds of sport (activities) that may give them the right direction to lead a healthy life and thus lose weight in a safe way," Yousuf Murad Salmeen, head of the media section at the civic body, was quoted as saying by Gulf News.

As many as 10,000 people have registered in the campaign that aims to making losing weight in Dubai the most rewarding experience they can get.
A 2013 UN report on the world's fattest developed nations said the UAE is the fourth fattest nation in the region with a 33.7 per cent obesity prevalence among adults.
Besides these special open day camps, the civic body has also started special camps on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the various registration centres to provide medical and health instructions to participants.
"Experts and health consultants will be available there to impart necessary instructions and advice to participants in order to assist them to complete the mission in a safe and healthier way," Salmeen said.

Participants have until August 30 to shed those unwanted pounds. Official weigh-in and re-measuring of participants will be done on August 30 and will continue for four days to determine the winners.