Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
A TV channel has been launched to help fitness fanatics – and those who aspire to be – enjoy a healthy and fun lifestyle.
Physique TV is the first Arabic and English TV channel committed to motivating its audience to adopt a healthy lifestyle as part of their daily regime.
The team behind the channel says in-house productions and acquired programming have been carefully conceived and selected to inspire people in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region to be their best through diet and exercise, while keeping it fun and accessible to all.
The format of Physique TV includes a variety of entertaining, inspiring, instructional and informative shows. Exercise at home with Yoga Today and Crunch will give viewers an adrenalin rush from some high octane action sport including MMA All Out and Maximum Rush and be inspired and entertained with fitness-oriented reality TV such as Love in the Wild, All the Right Moves and Push Girls.
The channel also makes it easy to cook and eat healthily with an array of appetising ideas, courtesy of Cooking with Siba and Week in a Day with Rachael Ray.
The Arabic and English news round-up shows Shou Fee Ma Fee and What’s Up? will keep viewers up to date with the latest health and lifestyle news, including inspiring real life stories that aim to motivate the audience to get fit while helping to make informed choices about diet, lifestyle and exercise routines.
Peter Einstein, general manager of Physique TV, explained: “We are very excited to bring this new TV channel concept to the region.
“Physique TV has a responsibility beyond just informing and instructing our audience. We want to inspire them enough to look after themselves whether that is in the choice of food they buy and cook or the time allocated for exercise.
“In a region where the biggest personal threats are an unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle, our goal is to cater for everyone interested in personal well-being and make it easier for people to create a good work/life balance in their daily lives.
“Physique TV’s programme selections include a unique range of instructional, entertaining and inspiring shows that really make you want to ‘Be Your Best!’
“Our audience can choose to use Physique TV as their fitness instructor, dietician, health advisor or simply provide motivation to get fit and stay fit.”
Mr Einstein thinks the channel’s success is a no-brainer, judging from the local health statistics.
The GCC countries have some of the highest rates of lifestyle diseases in the world, with the International Diabetes Foundation last year forecasting that about 20 per cent of the population is afflicted by the disease.
In November 2013 the Emirates Cardiac Society Congress revealed that a study in the UAE showed the following about men and women between the ages of 20 and 37:
* 30 per cent have high blood pressure
* 31 per cent also have high cholesterol
* 31 per cent suffer from diabetes
* 20 per cent are obese
The study also said that 40.8 per cent of those between 35 and 70 suffered from hypertension.
The International Diabetes Federation projects that by 2030, the number of people with diabetes in the MENA region will almost double, reaching 59.7 million.
Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – are among the world’s 10 highest for prevalence of diabetes.
A UN report placed GCC residents among the world’s overweight in July 2013 with obesity rates of:
* Kuwait 42.8 per cent
* Saudi Arabia 35.2 per cent
* UAE 33.7 per cent
* Qatar 33.1 per cent
* Bahrain 32.6 per cent
* Oman 22.1 per cent (in line with European countries)
Physique TV is available on Arabsat via the MyHD platform as well as on du (channel 412) and E-Life (channel 577) cable systems.
For further information visit: www.physique-tv.com
See Health Weekly
