AR
UR
A total of 10,944 participants from across the UAE participated in the 'RAK Biggest Weight Loser Challenge’, launched by RAK Hospital in association with Ministry of Health and Prevention, Ras Al Khaimah. After 10 weeks of sheer hard work, determination and motivation, these participants won big at the annual competition organised by the RAK Hospital.
On the occasion of World Obesity Day, the competition organisers announced the name of all 16 winners. The top four winners recorded a combined weight loss of 126 kg.
The competition is aimed at overcoming obesity in the emirate. This year, the competition witnessed an average weight loss of 10 kg per participant.
In the Physical category, Ghazwan Abdulilah Dakak took home Dh18,000 in cash prize after losing a massive 36 kg. Furthermore, Hadeel Mohd Ahmed Hasan was awareded Dh16,000 for losing 31.9 kg.
The challenge is organised in three categories:
· Physical category which saw 5,655 participants
· Virtual category which registered 5,289 participants
· Corporate category which saw nine teams in the fray.
In the Virtual category, Ferdaus Nalladaroo with a weight loss of 27kg and Alaa Elkhider with a weight loss of 31kg emerged winners, while the Corporate team event was won by RAK Therm LLC.
Apart from cash prizes, top ten achievers also won staycations at 5-star properties of Waldorf Astoria, Hilton Beach Resort and Rixos Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah. They also received annual gym memberships from GymNation and complimentary Swiss Medical checks by RAK Hospital.
Dr Raza Siddiqui, executive director of RAK Hospital and CEO Arabian Healthcare Group, congratulated the winners during the awards ceremony held at RAK Hospital. He underlined that obesity continues to be the most significant health crisis faced by countries across the world. The UAE ranks fifth in the Global Obesity Index. Furthermore, COVID-19 impact has increased the risks due to obesity among people.
"At RAK Hospital, we continue our fight against obesity by encouraging UAE residents to adopt healthy lifestyle choices, as a part of our CSR campaign is organising ‘The RAK Biggest Weight Loser Challenge’. I want to not only congratulate the winners but also each and every participant who contested," Dr Siddiqui said.
‘RAK Biggest Weight Losers Challenge’ is an essential competition helping many people in leading a healthy lifestyle. It has become an event for family and friends who participate and support each other during their weight loss journey.
"Organisations are also utilising the ‘Weight Losers Challenge’ as an opportunity to motivate their overweight employees to lose weight by competing against overweight employees in other corporates,” said Prof. Adrian Kennedy, chief wellness officer, Arabian Wellness and Lifestyle Management, the wellness division of RAK Hospital.
Speaking about his experience, Dakak, the male winner in the Physical category, expressed gratitude towards the team of RAK Hospital for motivating him and keeping his enthusiasm alive.
"The team shared weekly diet tips, exercise routines and organizing web seminars by top medical experts. This helped me develop specific and measurable goals and work towards them incrementally," he said.
Hadeel Mohd Ahmed Hasan, the female winner in the Physical weight loss category, underlined that it was not an easy journey, but she overcome all hardships.
“It was not at all easy to continue the challenge for ten weeks, but I was determined to lose weight and my family supported me incredibly," she said.
Overall Results:
Winners (Physical category):
1. Male: Ghazwan Abdulilah Dakak, weightloss 36kg.
2. Female: Hadeel Mohd Ahmad Hassan, weightloss 31.9kg
Winners (Virtual category):
1. Male: Ferdaus Nalladaroo, weightloss 27kg
2. Female: Alaa Elkhider, weightloss 31kg
Winners (Percentage of weight loss category):
1. Male: Asif Rahamtulla Shaikh, weightloss 31.7%
2. Female: Jilsheena Palakka Valappilinattingal, weightloss 25.4%
Winners (Top-10 weight losers with a weight loss of over 25kg):
1. Nour Allah Yousef Tahan
2. Muhammad Antash Ali
3. Thani Mohamed Alghafry
4. Mahmoud Ibrahem
5. Joshua David Fisher
6. Noha Metwally Ali Allam
7. Gary Alan Kleinfeldt
8. Salem Zaki Allaithy
9. Hesham Abdelmonem Hassan
10. Salman Musthafa
Corporate Team Winner: RAK Therm LLC.
SOURCE: Gulf News