“The summit demonstrates Aspetar’s ongoing commitment to encouraging all members of the community to adopt healthy lifestyles,” Dr Khalifa Al Kuwari.

Doha, Qatar (February 01st, 2014) – Aspetar is to organise the first national conference on physical activity and health. The event, taking place from 3 to 4 February, will bring together experts from around the world to discuss best practices for promoting physical activity in Qatar. Led by internationally-recognised health professionals, the two-day conference will feature a selection of scientific sessions addressing a number of relevant topics such as physical activity for precaution and treatment and sedentary behavior, community and school-based intervention for physical activity promotion, and nutrition. Commenting on the conference, Dr Khalifa Al Kuwari, Director General of Aspetar, said,

“Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, are on the rise due to non-healthy diet, and lack of physical activity. By bringing together experts from around the world, this conference will serve as a national platform to unify efforts in order to help tackle this growing problem”.

Guest speakers set to attend include Professor Fiona Bull, Chair of Global Advocacy for Physical Activity Council (GAPA) and Dr Thomas Best, Pomerene Endowed Chair of Primary Care and Director of the Division of Sports Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine at the Ohio State University; Professor Anne Karen Jenum, Professor at Department of General Practice, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo; and Professor John J Reilly, Professor of Physical Activity and Public Health Science Physical Activity for Health Group, School of Psychological Sciences and Health University of Strathclyde. Additionally, Dr Karim Khan, the Director of the Research and Education Centre at Aspetar, will present at the event. Dr Mohammed Ghaith Al-Kuwari, Director of Healthy Lifestyle Programme at Aspetar, said,

“This is the first time a physical activity and health conference has been held in Qatar. As the summit is designed to discuss the opportunities and challenges of promoting physical activity in Qatar, we want to encourage all professionals in the industry to attend, including researchers, policy makers, sport and exercise professionals, physicians, nurses, nutritionists, and physical educators”.

The conference, which has been organised by the Healthy Lifestyle Program at Aspetar, will take place in the Torch-Doha Hotel and is open to the public. For more information, please visit www.aspetar.com/PAconference2014.