Taking the leading role in promoting physical activities in Qatar 

Aspetar has released an updated version of the Qatar National Physical Activity Guidelines (QNPAG) to raise awareness of different aspects of sports and healthy lifestyles, and to make this a standard reference for all sports and healthcare providers and practitioners in Qatar.

The second version of QNPAG builds on and significantly expands the scientific evidence summarised in the first version published in 2014.

The QNPAG is a simple, fast, and helpful tool for using physical activity as a highly effective prescription for the prevention, treatment, and management of more than 40 of the most common chronic health conditions encountered in primary practice.

This comes in the framework of strengthening Aspetar's efforts to provide its services at the community level, and to promote the concept of physical activity as part of prevention and plans for many of the chronic diseases facing primary healthcare, such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Mr. Mohammed Khalifa Al-Suwaidi, Director General of Aspetar and Chief Executive Officer of Aspire Zone, said:

The field of physical activity and public health has developed markedly in the State of Qatar where Aspetar, a member of Aspire Zone Foundation, has been taking the leading role in promoting active healthy living and the wellness of the people in Qatar. This commitment encourages greater participation across the country and supports the development of human capital in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.

The guidelines provide scientific-based advice on how physical activity can help promote health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases as well as avoid sedentarism.

The QNPAG outlines the most updated knowledge and best practices concerning physical activity as it relates to health. This is a simple and easy resource of information for practitioners, physicians, educators, and individuals who wish to prescribe or engage in regular physical activity.

Commenting on this occasion, Dr. Abdulaziz Jaham Al-Kuwari, Chief Executive Officer of Aspetar, said:

We are excited that the scientific working group has covered a wide span of areas such as physical activity for selected populations including young children and pregnant women, sedentary behaviour, physical activity for patients with chronic lifestyle disorders, and exercise recommendations in special conditions such as in challenging environments of heat and pollution, fasting, outbreaks, and more.

This new edition of the physical activity guidelines for Qatar has the potential to assure active healthy living through the provision of information that helps educate people in Qatar to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. In addition, it is an essential resource for health professionals and policymakers to design and implement physical activity programs, policies, and promotion initiatives in all the places where people live, learn, work, and play.”

With 98 pages divided into 5 chapters, the QNPAG has a refreshed prescribing guideline tailored to various populations and needs.

QNPAG was developed by experts in physical activity and health from different backgrounds and sectors in Qatar with the support and quality assurance of renowned international experts.

The publication received the outstanding support of Aspetar stakeholders with experts from national and international organisations namely: Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Ministry of sportsand youth, HMC, Primary Health Care Corporation, Naufar Hospital, Qatar Cancer society, Qatar University and many international institutes and universities.

Aspetar is grateful for their substantial assistance throughout the entire process and proud of the collective achievement in creating such a resource for the community.

Qatar recognises the importance of physical activity and the fact that sport is an important pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030. The country is a leading leisure sport destination, with fantastic facilities catering for all sport and physical activity enthusiasts. The new updated guidelines also provide a list of the various public venues for physical activities which are accessible by individuals based on municipality location, showcasing the excellent work done in Qatar in recent years to make physical activity accessible to everyone.

For more details, you can download the full copy of the guidelines in Arabic and English from the Aspetar website.

• Click here to Download your copy to know more about practical advice, exercise during pandemics and available places for exercise in Qatar.

About Aspetar:

Aspetar is a world leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Since 2007, with a world expert team, the hospital has provided top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the-art facility that sets new standards internationally.

In 2009, Aspetar was accredited as a “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence” by F-MARC. In 2013, Aspetar was adopted as a reference collaborator centre by the Gulf Countries Council (GCC) Health Ministers Council and “IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health” in 2014.

In 2015, Aspetar has been recognised as the “IHF Reference Centre for Athlete and Referee Health”. In the same year, the hospital also achieved the obtained on December 15 the Accreditation Canada International (ACI) “Platinum Level”.

Aspetar is a member–organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar’s innovative sports and healthy lifestyle destination.