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Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island To Host Diabetes Walkathon |
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10,000 expected to walk YAS Marina CircuitWALK UAE 2009 More than 10,000 residents are expected to seize the opportunity to pace the YAS Marina Circuit track on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island in this year’s walk against diabetes, according to Dr Maha Taysir Barakat, Medical & Research Director and Consultant Endocrinologist, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre. Dr Barakat confirmed that the landmark circuit has offered itself as the venue for WALK UAE 2009 on November 20, 2009. Daman’s CEO Dr Michael Bitzer said: "Daman is very pleased to be the exclusive sponsor of WALK UAE for the third consecutive year. This reflects our contribution in raising public awareness on the benefits of physical exercise in the management of diabetes. “Through WALK UAE, as well as the several other awareness campaigns that we host, our aim is to help raise the nation’s embrace of a healthy lifestyle.” Dr Barakat said that walking 30-minutes a day is proven to help combat the onset of diabetes, and indeed to manage the disease. She urged that consideration is given to regular exercise and warned that slim people are not exempt from developing diabetes. “It is a common misconception to think that reasonable body weight equates to good health. The truth is that visceral fat can build up around the liver, even in people who are visibly thin. Visceral fat can promote the onset of type 2 diabetes. “There is a simple, smart solution to preventing and managing diabetes and this is to eat healthily and to exercise. Regular exercise can lower the risk of developing diabetes by 58 per cent,” she said. Dr Barakat confirmed that November’s WALK 2009 at the YAS Marina Circuit has ambitions to attract 10,000 walkers, up 25 per cent from 2008. |
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