I am writing with regard to the report “WHO urges action against obesity as poor nations get fatter” (May 30). The World Health Organization has urged many countries to take action to reduce the incidence of life-threatening obesity, and this should be taken to heart by the authorities in the Kingdom. It is an all too common sight here to see grossly overweight people, and sadly many of them are young. This is largely due to a total lack of exercise. If many in the local population are clearly very unfit in their youth, then we cannot hold out much hope that they will be getting any thinner as they get older. Normally, humans are at their fittest when they are young - but not here! An associated problem is that obese people with an inappropriate diet often develop diabetes. Diabetes is an exceptionally common disease in Saudi Arabia. Obesity also commonly leads to fatal heart problems. So it is a very serious risk to health, in many ways. For many a young man here, his only excitement comes from driving his car too fast, from freewheeling, from “surfing” the motorways and from other types of dangerous driving activity. Such activity poses a real danger to his own life, as well as to the safety of other road users. It would be far better if these bored youngsters could have their need for excitement and excess energy directed to such exciting sports as basketball, volleyball, football, squash, competitive running or team swimming. That would help get them thinner, and thereby more likely to live longer. It would also make the notoriously dangerous roads here that much safer. Paul Jones, Jeddah
