Justice minister, DGA chief discuss partnership to boost digital judicial services    Netanyahu does not rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders    US farmers are being squeezed – and it's testing their deep loyalty to Trump    Romania condemns 'irresponsible' Moscow after Russian drone breaches its airspace    Kirk's assassination is forcing US politicians to make difficult choices about their safety    India players refused handshakes, says Pakistan coach    Final stage of Spanish Vuelta cycling race abandoned after disruption by pro-Palestine protesters    Mané fires Al Nassr past Al Kholood to keep perfect start as Ronaldo honored    Lacazette brace earns NEOM SC first Saudi Pro League win    Adolescence star Owen Cooper makes Emmys history at 15    Saudi liquidity grows 8.4%, reaching SR3.1 trillion in July 2025    Over 434,000 people acquire first aid skills during nationwide health campaign    Saudi Arabia's legislative advancement highlighted at International Conference on Judicial Training    Sudden swerving among 3 major causes of accidents in Riyadh in 2024    Princess Haifa emphasizes pivotal Saudi role in shaping future of tourism    Sahm Capital names Saudi Olympian Fayik Abdi as brand ambassador    SR9000 fine for copyright infringement using AI    King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart    Anastacia: Arnold Schwarzenegger made me sing Whatta Man 12 times    Thousands pay their last respects to Giorgio Armani, private funeral on Monday    The key to happiness    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Are women's health clubs still lacking?
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 29 - 08 - 2015


Layan Damanhouri
Saudi Gazette


WHILE exercise trends and dieting fads are popping up in the media, obesity rates in the Kingdom are still alarmingly high.
According to the most recent statistics from the Ministry of Health, the prevalence of obesity is higher among females than males, with 33.5 percent of females overweight compared to 24.1 percent of males.
While male health clubs are visible around the Kingdom's cities, the apparent lack of gyms dedicated to females provokes the question: Is there a discrepancy between health club services offered to males as opposed to females?
Saudi Gazette surveyed a number of women who work out on a regular basis, and while many prefer to work out at home or in private studios, others choose to go to the gym even if it is a long drive from home.
Many say they are not satisfied with their gym experience, despite access to state-of-the-art, high quality facilities and numerous classes.
They said their main concern was a lack of professional trainers. Jumanah Babiker, 24, said she was satisfied with her gym, one of the major chains in Jeddah, because of its high quality facilities and large space. However, she said the trainers were incompetent.
“The trainers are not that helpful. There should be more guidance and assistance to visitors,” she said.
“The classes didn't help me much so I started working out alone,” Babiker said. “I get my information about fitness and exercise mainly from Instagram.”
A Saudi female in her 20's, who didn't want to be identified, said she uses the Internet for fitness information and uses her gym's personal trainers only occasionally.
“There should be more guidance and orientation to help women learn about the right exercise for them,” she said. “I've encountered many women of all ages that have no idea about fitness but go sign up for classes randomly.”
One Jeddah resident, Alana Sunbol, said after leaving her gym it has been difficult to find another with the facilities she needed in a reasonable price range.
“There aren't a lot of options,” she added. A woman who visits one of Jeddah's leading health clubs said: “I agree that the annual subscriptions are overpriced.
I was lucky to get a discount when I signed up this year.” Personal trainer, Sarah Al-Othman, who obtained her license abroad and is now running her own studio, said: “Gym services here are very weak. Lots of money is being put in to improve appearances but the equipment is very basic.”
She added that there is a focus on cardio machines and facilities like swimming pools, but there is still not enough equipment for weight lifting.
“There should be more awareness of exercise and diet,” Al-Othman said. “There are actually a lot of people who want to learn but can't find the correct information.
Not all trainers, even those in the biggest gyms, are providing the right knowledge.” However, the situation may be improving.
After establishing a number of branches in the Kingdom, World Gym opened its first women's branch in Jeddah recently.
According to branch manager, Nermeen Al-Amoudi, World Gym has the Kingdom's first fully equipped strength-training room for ladies, in addition to three large classes and a swimming pool.
“All the machines are available as well as all the weight sizes, just like in the men's gym,” Al-Amoudi said.
The gym also has a day-care center to make regular visits easy for parents. A trainer at Dynamic Code Center, Aziza Bashir, said: “Unfortunately, many women are not committed to working out. They sign up and are absent most of the year.”
Bashir said they usually come across clients who harbor many misconceptions about fitness, especially strength training.
“They think they'll look manly and bulky if they lift weights, which is untrue,” she said. Bashir said some clients want to get fit fast and often insist on the wrong exercise routines.
“There's been an advancement in fitness awareness in recent years, but still there is not enough awareness.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.