Healthcare

Nestl Middle East, MBC Al Amal, and the Arabian Radio Network have joined forces to launch United for Healthier Kids (U4HK), with an invitation to everyone to join the movement and contribute towards healthier children. U4HK aims to help parents establish healthier eating, drinking and lifestyle habits for children aged 4-12, and offers game-changing education and fun ideas to inspire action and influence behavior.

Tackling growing childhood obesity rates must be a priority for all parties concerned with public health in the region, and the drive to do that can certainly benefit from the involvement of as many in the private and public sectors as possible, said Dr. Nahla Hwalla, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture & Food Sciences at the American University of Beirut, and scientific advisor for U4HK. International studies show that 30% of obese preschoolers and 40% of obese school children become obese adults1, making obesity reduction all the more vital.

According to the World Health Organization* (WHO), worldwide obesity has doubled since 1980, which will lead to 42 million children being obese by 2021. And, if current trends continue, the number of overweight or obese children globally will increase to 70 million by 2025.

Established for the sole purpose of positively impacting childrens lives, U4HK will capitalize on the generosity of the Arab culture to offer MORE. It is with this insight that U4HK will be calling on people and entities to promote MORE Movement; MORE Water; MORE Fruits & Vegetables; and MORE Managed Portions behaviors scientifically proven to positively impact quality of life throughout life if adopted at an early age.

Mazen Hayek, MBC Groups Official Spokesman said: The youth are the next generation and leaders of tomorrow. Healthy minds and active bodies are leadership enablers especially when coupled with the right set of skills, knowledge and education. Hayek further added: MBC Al Amal is about Hope for a better and brighter future and that starts with adopting a healthier and active lifestyle.

Nestl is committed to promoting healthy diets and lifestyles, with specific focus on children, said Yves Manghardt, Chairman and CEO, Nestl Middle East. As the worlds leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company, we offer unique expertise to help tackle the diverse nutrition challenges facing people in the region, and we have the capacity and, more importantly, the determination to contribute to healthier kids.

The health of future generations concerns each and every one of us, and we believe that together we can make a difference, said Zeinab Maktabi, Nutrition, Health & Wellness Manager at Nestl Middle East and U4HK Lead. We invite everybody to unite for healthier kids, by becoming a member of the movement and signing up at www.U4HK-me.com.

The website provides a wealth of tips and fun ideas to make adopting a healthy lifestyle enjoyable and easy for parents and kids.

You can also join the movement on www.MBC.net/U4HK, Facebook.com\U4HKme, or Instagram: @U4HKme.

More on U4HK focus areas:
- More Movement: Being active is not only important for health, but for children to develop their motor skills, decision-making, attention and teamwork abilities. Regular physical activity is part of a healthy lifestyle where any amount and any type of exercise are better than none.
- More Water: Water is best for calorie-free hydration and controlling the bodys temperature and is especially important for children who are physically active or live in hot climates. Parents should encourage children to drink adequate amounts of water.
- More Fruits & Vegetables: Children should be encouraged to have a varied, nutrient-rich diet based on the different food groups. The United for Healthier Kids program emphasizes variety such as offering vegetables and fruits as snacks, in side dishes and incorporated into main meals.
- More Managed Portions: Helping children select the right amount of food, in the correct proportions, instills healthier eating habits. United for Healthier Kids communicates age-appropriate portions to parents.

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