31% of Residents skip breakfast

31% of Qatar’s residents skip breakfast: study
Some 31% of Qatar residents do not consider breakfast as an important meal of the day, a new study has found.
An independent study on the health and fitness trends conducted by Zarca Interactive, a leading provider of online survey solutions, across 300 respondents has identified interesting health and fitness trends amongst the residents of Qatar.
The findings of the maiden survey for Qatar revealed that 31% respondents do not consider breakfast as an important meal of the day of which cent percent respondents quoted lack of time as the only reason for not consuming breakfast.
Zarca Interactive’s health and fitness study for Qatar vindicates the World Health Organisation reports highlighted during the meeting at the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region in Egypt which alerted that the increasing use of television and computers was leading to sedentary lifestyles.
As per the study, 70% of the respondents from Qatar resorted to television and Internet to relieve their stress instead of indulging in any physical activity. Further complementing the trend for lack of movement is the increased intake of fried foods by the residents of Qatar. The study reveals that 61% respondents from Qatar consume fried foods at least twice a week.
According to the survey, which comprised of over 76% males, a combination of toast and coffee is the preferred breakfast option for 68% of the respondents, closely followed by cereals and eggs. The water intake levels witnessed a healthy trend with over 60% respondents confirming an intake of at least 1.5 liters of water everyday.
The intake of multivitamins as a regular diet met with skepticism, with over 35% respondents considering them expensive and a waste of money. Some 10% respondents, however, continued with their multivitamin doses as prescribed by the doctor. While the intake percentage of multivitamins might be low, more than 86% respondents were found to be highly aware about verifying the manufacturing and expiry dates for various products.
An indication towards an increase in the sleeping disorder cases in Qatar is one of the key highlights of the Zarca health and fitness survey.
The study reveals that sleeping disorders are on a rise amongst Qatar residents, with only 32% respondents confirming that they were able to manage an eight hour sleep on a daily basis, with over 16% admitting that they could never manage a comfortable sleep.
Following a similar trend, the survey revealed that 57% of respondents from Qatar did not know how to calculate their body mass index (BMI), which leads to the discovery of the fact that 72% of the respondents found themselves slightly overweight or obese.
The first survey implemented by Zarca Interactive in Qatar witnessed the participation of 300 respondents. The respondent base for the health and fitness survey primarily comprised of Qatar nationals, followed closely by Asian and Arab expatriates.

NEW STADIUMS IN QATAR

QATAR’S PROPOSED 2022 STADIUMS
AL-GHARAFA STADIUM


• Al-Gharafa is an existing
stadium in a suburb of Doha that will be expanded for the FIFA World Cup.


• The façade will be made up of the colours of the teams playing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, representing the values of the global football community.


• During the FIFA World Cup™ the stadium will hold 44,740 fans. The existing lower tier has 21,175 seats while a modular upper tier will have 23,565 seats. Roofing elements will be added so that all seats are covered.


• Fans will be able to arrive by train and car.


Al-KHOR STADIUM

• Al-Khor is a brand new stadium that will be built in the city of Al-Khor, 50 kilometres north of Doha.


• The stadium takes its design cues from the seashell.


• During the FIFA World Cup the stadium will hold 45,330 fans. A permanent lower tier will have 25,500 seats while a modular upper tier will have 19,830 seats.


• All seats will be covered, and some will have stunning views of the Arabian Sea.


• Fans will be able to arrive by water taxi, train and car.


AL-RAYYAN STADIUM

• Al-Rayyan is an existing stadium in a Doha suburb that will be expanded for the FIFA World Cup.


• The stadium includes a “media façade” with the capacity to project other football matches, news and advertisements onto the outside of the stadium.


• During the FIFA World Cup the stadium will hold 44,740 fans. The existing lower tier has 21,282 seats while a modular upper tier will have 23,458 seats. Roofing elements will be added so that all seats are covered.


• Fans will be able to arrive by train and car.


AL-SHAMAL STADIUM

• Al-Shamal is a brand new stadium that will be built in western Qatar.


• The stadium takes its design cues from the dhow, the traditional fishing vessel in the Arabian Gulf.


• During the FIFA World Cup the stadium will hold 45,330 fans. A permanent lower tier will have 25,500 seats while a modular upper tier will have 19,830 seats.

• Fans will be able to arrive by water taxi, train and car. It will be easily accessible from the Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge, and we expect that at least 10% of fans will arrive from Bahrain.



AL-WAKRAH STADIUM

• Al-Wakrah is a brand new
stadium that will be built in
Al-Wakrah, a city 20 kilometres south of Doha.

• The stadium and surrounding sports complex are designed to represent an oasis.
The sporting complex will include an aquatic centre and other sporting facilities, along with a spa and retail space.


• During the FIFA World Cup the stadium will hold 45,120 fans. A permanent lower tier will have 25,500 seats while a modular upper tier will have 19,620 seats.


• Fans will be able to arrive by train or by using the new Doha Expressway

Imams are asked to keep the ritual short on Eid

DOHA: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has asked all imams who will be leading Eid prayers at mosques and prayer grounds across the country to keep the rituals short in view of the hot weather.

The imams have been asked to perform all the rituals, including the sermon that follows the prayers, within 15 minutes. The Mosques Committee at the ministry has already sent messages to all imams in this regard.

Apart from the imams who lead the Friday prayers in mosques, a number of prominent Islamic scholars have been assigned to lead the special morning prayers on the first day of Eid Al Fitr.

After many years Ramadan and Eid have fallen during the summer months, forcing the ministry to limit the duration of the prayers, arguably for the first time in the country. The high temperatures and humidity prevailing since June are expected to continue until mid-September.

A senior official of the Mosques Committee told Al Sharq that the decision was taken in the interest of the worshippers, who will be gathering in large numbers for the Eid prayers.

The Eid prayers would be held at around 5.30am, about one and half hours after the Fajr (dawn) prayers. The weather is expected to be hot by that time, particularly in the prayer grounds.

Normally, the entire proceedings take 20 to 30 minutes depending on how long the sermon is. However, the imams leading the prayers have been asked to keep their speech short and finish the prayers in 15 minutes.

The ministry has made arrangements at 214 mosques and prayer grounds across the country for offering of the Eid prayers. Of these, 24 venues will have special facilities for women.

Eid Al Fitr will fall on the coming Thursday or Friday, marking the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan. If the crescent moon is sighted on Wednesday, Eid will fall on Thursday, otherwise on Friday, after a full 30 days of the fasting month.

The Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, H E Dr Gheith bin Mubarak Al Kuwari, has urged all Muslims to look for the crescent moon on Wednesday. Anyone who sights the moon has been advised to report to the Moon Sighting Committee at the ministry and give testimony before the panel at its office in the Al Sadd area