^ I've read all of those reviews in the papers..however if u visit malls and any other place, all u see is extremely fit people! The local girls are extremely thin.. yes some Emirati men are over-weight.. but the statistics and concerns even came as a shock to me.. cuz u hardly get to see over-weight people here..most of them are extremely conscious!
In Saudi yes, majority of the people seen walking around..from youth to adults was over-weight.. and had heart issues, diabetes..
I also shud add that the "locals" hardly eat Arabian cuisine.. it's either fast-food or Indian/Pakistani cuisine.. which brings us back to desi food being unhealthy :)