Memorandum

To: Dr. Naqaa Abbas, Dr. Queen, Mariam Al Bishri

From Team 4 <Aisha Al-Kubaisi, Sara Al-Darwish, Arar Al-Naimi, Arif Sunarwan>
Subject: Recommendations to Qatar’s Obesity Epidemic
Date: April 9th, 2024

A cornerstone of Qatar’s 2030 National Vision is the advancement of human development,

which includes prioritizing the well-being of its people. Qatar faces a significant challenge with
its elevated obesity rate, currently ranking as the 11th most obese country according to the
global obesity federation. We aim to address this issue demanding a focus on the country's
children and teenagers, who represent the future generation and are integral in shaping a
healthier tomorrow.

Within this memorandum, my group and I aim to present outlines of several potential solutions
to address Qatar’s rising obesity rates. Following our detailed evaluation and analysis of Qatar’s
obesity epidemic, as highlighted in our Problem Statement, we have highlighted four strategic
solutions with the most promise for fostering healthier lifestyles and effectively addressing the
issue of obesity:

Option A: ‘Interactive Kids’ Website on Obesity Awareness

This platform, which will be the first of its kind in Qatar, will make it easier for kids and teens to
get over obesity. Since this generation, as you are aware, has iPads and can access the
internet, having that website will basically be like playing online games. The website will be
divided into many categories. The main section is called Activities, and it will contain a variety of
sports that users can engage in without becoming bored. Additionally, it will have an interactive
screen that allows users to play sports both indoors and outdoors. Furthermore, particular
doctors will monitor the children's lifestyle and provide the parents with weekly reports. Also,
there will be a zone on the website with advice on how to reduce weight in a way that fits each
age group, like telling stories. Further, the platform will have a part that assists each child in
selecting their favorite healthy foods and creating a weekly menu, preventing them from growing
bored with their meals.

Option B: Virtual Reality (VR) Fitness Game

Develop a VR game that requires physical movement. With this game children embark on
adventures and solve puzzles by running, jumping and doing different types of exercises. This
will allow children to exercise, while not feeling like they are exercising, aiding them with their
weight journey. Furthermore, due to the hot temperature conditions in Qatar exercising using
VR can offer an alternative physical activity. Although there are fitness games in VR currently,
we would like this game to allow the parents to enter their children's weight and height so
specific exercises can be chosen for them.
Option C: Real-Time Interactive Exercise Calculators
Traditional methods of informing individuals about the calorie content of food and drinks already
exist. Instead, capitalizing on the effectiveness of educating individuals about the exercise
requirements necessary to burn off consumed calories is a more innovative solution. This
approach involves the development of interactive exercise calculators seamlessly integrated
into everyday environments. These smart calculators leverage advanced sensor technologies
and interactive displays to deliver real-time feedback on the physical activity required to
counterbalance calories consumed from specific food and beverage items. For instance,
displaying that a 40 minute walk is needed to burn the calories of the food scanned.
Strategically placed in high-traffic locations such as grocery stores, restaurants, and vending
machines, users can easily input their food choices and promptly receive guidance on exercise
requirements. By implementing this exercise-based food labeling helps combat obesity by
promoting awareness, facilitating informed decision-making, and encouraging healthier eating
habits through clear information on the physical activity required to burn off consumed calories.

Decision Matrix:

Conclusion:
Taking into consideration the matrix above, the most effective solution is the implementation of a website
that provides an interactive experience to maintain a healthy lifestyle while providing options on how to
lose weight effectively depending on different age groups. This is because the development and
maintaining a website at the present time does not require much financial investment and it is much lower
compared to the other solutions provided. Another reason as to why this is the better solution is because
of the life span of the product. With websites, the implementation of updates is very simple and feasible
which dramatically increases the lifespan of this solution as there will be constant updates to improve the
quality and add more content to keep the engagement. Last but not least, this solution is the most
accessible out of the solutions because everyone has access to the internet especially in the present time
where it is almost impossible to avoid. Having greater accessibility ensures that everyone is able to
access and take advantage of this resource for their own benefit.