Amidst growing concerns of obesity levels, more than a million Qataris were given a day off work on Tuesday to take part in the annual Qatar National Sport Day.

Hadi Abderrahim, managing director of Qatar Biobank, said, "The obesity problem is a lifestyle issue and is typical of a country (which) is growing and developing quickly."
Accounting giant PwC has advocated that Qatar introduce a tax on fatty foods to encourage healthy eating. National Sport Day locations also include 'diet shops' and cash prizes are offered for those Qataris who have lost the most weight throughout the year.
Among the venues used was Doha's Aspire Academy, usually a hothouse for potential professional talent but, was taken over by enthusiastic amateurs trying out a variety of sports including yoga, cycling, football and climbing. People present there claimed that they were unable to do more exercise because of the demands of work and the country's inhospitable climate. Other events held across Qatar included a children's run, beach tennis and a 5,000-step journey, a roughly 40-minute walk designed for families to take part together.
Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, secretary general of the Qatar Olympic Committee, said, "The Gulf state faced similar problems to other nations where driving to work, sitting in an office or in front of television or computer screens mean people are less active. It is a problem everywhere in the world. The most important thing is to make awareness for sport for the whole year. It is not meant for one day. One day is like... the wake-up call, to make you understand how sport is important in your life."
Source-Medindia