Hello honorable chair and fellow delegates,
Obesity and Overweight:-
Lebanon is not on the top on the ranking of the countries with most obesity and overweight leader board but obesity is still a very big problem because 23.4% of boys and 19.7% of girls were overweight in 1996. Among university students at Lebanese American University in 2008, more male students were overweight or obese than female students. 37% of males were overweight and 13.6% were obese, while 13.6% of females were overweight and 3.2% were obese. This shows that many males were not doing enough exercise and are consuming too much daily calories for an average person’s daily intake.
The current trend towards obesity is influenced by more than the shift from traditional Mediterranean to fast food. Individuals who had a low level of education, were non-smokers, and had a family history of obesity were more likely to have an unhealthy body weight. Although females at the Lebanese American University were more likely to snack between meals than their counterparts, they were subjected to the cultural notion that females need to be thin. Males did not have this societal pressure.
Lebanon has taken action plan to stop more people from getting obesity and overweight. They created Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) for adults. For children, they started an intervention in schools, public ones, to create awareness for healthy eating.
The FBDG are still a draft to be reviewed by several ministries such as the Ministry of health before being exposed to the public. Lebanon will mention a few more recommended habits such as eating more fruits and vegetables, more legumes and cereals, less saturated fat, less alcohol, more physical activity, etc. They are very well adapted to the Lebanese cuisine and tradition.
Pollution and development:-
Lebanon has some serious water pollution and air pollution, along with solid waste and other agricultural byproducts that is harmful for the environment. Studies done in 1990 and 1994 showed that at least 70% of all fresh water resources were exposed to bacteriological contamination and that 80 % of the well water must be considered unsafe for consumption. Farmers in Lebanon tend to use pesticides and fertilizers in an excessive amount without any waiting time or periodic rhythm, which can be harmful for the plants and if human inhale this gas for over a long time it can also be harmful to the human body. Studies based on 1994 data indicate that most of the air pollution in Lebanon originates from the transport and energy sector. Lebanon's per capita CO2 emissions are 4.55 tons which is 3 times as much as the average for India. Which is very high since India is a country with very high air pollution. Currently there is no wastewater treatment in Lebanon, but the sewage treatment plant in Ghadir, near Beirut is almost ready to commence primary treatment (physical treatment). Long pipes are supposed to channel the sewage into the sea to prevent coastal pollution. More sewage treatment plants are in the planning stage for all urban conglomerations. Lebanon is didn’t show much action in trying to solve the air pollution problem. In September 1996 the Ministry of Environment enacted regulations which set standards for emissions and ambient air quality standards but difficulties are expected in the enforcement. But Lebanon does not ignore the problem and are trying to reduce the illness and diseases caused by air pollution.
Obesity and Overweight:-
Lebanon is not on the top on the ranking of the countries with most obesity and overweight leader board but obesity is still a very big problem because 23.4% of boys and 19.7% of girls were overweight in 1996. Among university students at Lebanese American University in 2008, more male students were overweight or obese than female students. 37% of males were overweight and 13.6% were obese, while 13.6% of females were overweight and 3.2% were obese. This shows that many males were not doing enough exercise and are consuming too much daily calories for an average person’s daily intake.
The current trend towards obesity is influenced by more than the shift from traditional Mediterranean to fast food. Individuals who had a low level of education, were non-smokers, and had a family history of obesity were more likely to have an unhealthy body weight. Although females at the Lebanese American University were more likely to snack between meals than their counterparts, they were subjected to the cultural notion that females need to be thin. Males did not have this societal pressure.
Lebanon has taken action plan to stop more people from getting obesity and overweight. They created Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) for adults. For children, they started an intervention in schools, public ones, to create awareness for healthy eating.
The FBDG are still a draft to be reviewed by several ministries such as the Ministry of health before being exposed to the public. Lebanon will mention a few more recommended habits such as eating more fruits and vegetables, more legumes and cereals, less saturated fat, less alcohol, more physical activity, etc. They are very well adapted to the Lebanese cuisine and tradition.
Pollution and development:-
Lebanon has some serious water pollution and air pollution, along with solid waste and other agricultural byproducts that is harmful for the environment. Studies done in 1990 and 1994 showed that at least 70% of all fresh water resources were exposed to bacteriological contamination and that 80 % of the well water must be considered unsafe for consumption. Farmers in Lebanon tend to use pesticides and fertilizers in an excessive amount without any waiting time or periodic rhythm, which can be harmful for the plants and if human inhale this gas for over a long time it can also be harmful to the human body. Studies based on 1994 data indicate that most of the air pollution in Lebanon originates from the transport and energy sector. Lebanon's per capita CO2 emissions are 4.55 tons which is 3 times as much as the average for India. Which is very high since India is a country with very high air pollution. Currently there is no wastewater treatment in Lebanon, but the sewage treatment plant in Ghadir, near Beirut is almost ready to commence primary treatment (physical treatment). Long pipes are supposed to channel the sewage into the sea to prevent coastal pollution. More sewage treatment plants are in the planning stage for all urban conglomerations. Lebanon is didn’t show much action in trying to solve the air pollution problem. In September 1996 the Ministry of Environment enacted regulations which set standards for emissions and ambient air quality standards but difficulties are expected in the enforcement. But Lebanon does not ignore the problem and are trying to reduce the illness and diseases caused by air pollution.