TY - JOUR
T1 - Nutrition Situation Analysis in the UAE
T2 - A Review Study
AU - Al Sabbah, Haleama
AU - Assaf, Enas A.
AU - Al-Jawaldeh, Ayoub
AU - AlSammach, Afra Salah
AU - Madi, Haifa
AU - Khamis Al Ali, Nouf
AU - Al Dhaheri, Ayesha S.
AU - Cheikh Ismail, Leila
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - This review study aimed to assess the nutrition situation in the UAE using published data from 2010 to 2022. It highlights the gaps and challenges that prevail in addressing the nutrition-related problems in the UAE and the opportunities that have been overlooked. The available literature indicates that the UAE is burdened with more than one form of nutrition-related problems, including being underweight, being overweight, obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, and nutrition-related chronic diseases. It is clear that data on micronutrient deficiencies, protein-energy malnutrition, obesity, diabetes, and other nutrition-related diseases among the UAE population are extremely scarce. The UAE has a high prevalence of obesity and diabetes; however, limited studies have been conducted to document this nutritional phenomenon. Few examples of published data are available assessing the burden of stunting, wasting, and being underweight among children under five years of age. Despite the importance of protein-energy malnutrition, no recent publications analyze its prevalence within the UAE population. Therefore, future studies must be conducted, focusing on malnutrition. Based on the literature, and bearing in mind the magnitude of the health issues due to the UAE population’s nutrition negligence, there is an urgent need to assess the population’s nutrient behaviors, to aid policy decision-makers in developing and implementing effective health policies and strategies.
AB - This review study aimed to assess the nutrition situation in the UAE using published data from 2010 to 2022. It highlights the gaps and challenges that prevail in addressing the nutrition-related problems in the UAE and the opportunities that have been overlooked. The available literature indicates that the UAE is burdened with more than one form of nutrition-related problems, including being underweight, being overweight, obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, and nutrition-related chronic diseases. It is clear that data on micronutrient deficiencies, protein-energy malnutrition, obesity, diabetes, and other nutrition-related diseases among the UAE population are extremely scarce. The UAE has a high prevalence of obesity and diabetes; however, limited studies have been conducted to document this nutritional phenomenon. Few examples of published data are available assessing the burden of stunting, wasting, and being underweight among children under five years of age. Despite the importance of protein-energy malnutrition, no recent publications analyze its prevalence within the UAE population. Therefore, future studies must be conducted, focusing on malnutrition. Based on the literature, and bearing in mind the magnitude of the health issues due to the UAE population’s nutrition negligence, there is an urgent need to assess the population’s nutrient behaviors, to aid policy decision-makers in developing and implementing effective health policies and strategies.
KW - UAE
KW - anemia
KW - exclusive breastfeeding
KW - food consumption pattern
KW - malnutrition
KW - nutritional status
KW - obesity
KW - overweight
KW - stunting
KW - wasting
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85146690481&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85146690481&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu15020363
DO - 10.3390/nu15020363
M3 - Review article
C2 - 36678240
AN - SCOPUS:85146690481
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 15
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 2
M1 - 363
ER -
