Rising blood sugar levels and excessive salt consumption remain key health concerns, national survey finds
Dubai: More than half of adults in the UAE have high cholesterol, according to the National Health Survey released by the Ministry of Health and Prevention. The survey covered 9,997 households across the country. While obesity, smoking and high blood pressure have declined compared with previous years, cholesterol and blood sugar levels have increased. The percentage of adults with high cholesterol rose sharply from 43.7% to 54.2%. The rate also increased with age, while 23% of those with high cholesterol had never undergone a cholesterol test. The proportion of adults with high fasting blood glucose increased from 11.8% to 12.5%, while the rate of high blood pressure fell from 28.8% to 25.9%.
The decline in obesity from 27.8% to 22.4% was welcomed as a positive development. However, 66.7% of adults are still overweight, with obesity more common among women. The percentage of people who do not engage in physical activity fell from 70.8% to 59.1%, allowing the UAE to achieve its 2030 physical activity target ahead of schedule. Smoking also declined from 9.1% to 8.7%. Young people aged 18 to 29 were the most prominent group among smokers. The growing use of e-cigarettes and midwakh among young people remains a new challenge for health authorities.
Another major concern is salt consumption. Adults in the UAE consume an average of 10 grams of salt per day, more than twice the amount recommended by the World Health Organization. The report warned that excessive salt intake can increase the risk of heart-related diseases. Participation in early cancer screening programmes also remains low. Based on the survey findings, the Ministry of Health and Prevention said it will develop new national health programmes and initiatives to address these health concerns.
