News Desk
DUBAI: A women-only health, fitness, wellness and lifestyle destination has been opened at the Dubai Women’s Association premises opposite Dubai Hospital on the Abu Baker Al Siddique Road in Abu Hail Area of Dubai, that offers a wider choice of health, fitness, wellness, nutrition and lifestyle facility for women to help them keep physically and mentally fit.
Fit Social’s women-only health, fitness and lifestyle destination has been established in association with Dubai Women’s Association – whose members will benefit from the world-class state-of-the art facility that has a large parking lot with ample free parking for the members.
Inaugurated by Chief Guest HE Amina Ibrahim Aldabboos Alsuwidi, Executive Manager of Sheikha Latifah Bint Mohammad Award of childhood Creativity, Fit Social is now open for members to enjoy the facilities.
Set up in a 30,000 square feet large facility, Fit Social hosts an Olympic-size swimming pool, a well-equipped large gymnasium, eight spa rooms offering the best spa treatment and aromatherapy, a kid’s corner that takes care of the children when mothers work out and seek treatment.
Located in Abu Hail area, Fit Social is situated at a very relaxed and comfortable residential community that is free from the hustle and bustle of the busy urban life and easily accessible by car and bus with less traffic.
A premium facility, Fit Social has a well-appointed lobby with professionals to meet and greet members, offer refreshments, and offer personalised fitness services to the members.
Fit Social also offers health and nutrition advisory services, health classes and deploys personal health trainers who offer personalised health training for individuals – all managed by women.
The opening of the Fit Social’s women-only health, fitness and lifestyle destination comes over a week after the world celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 and two weeks after the world observed World Obesity Day on March 4 to reflect on the problem with overweight and obese population.
Lakshmi Menon, Head of Operations at Fit Social, says, “We have created one of the largest health, fitness, wellness and lifestyle destination in the GCC to help women overcome any fitness and lifestyle issue to remain fit to enjoy a healthy and long life.
“Due to increased health and fitness awareness, more and more people in the UAE are investing time and resources to remain fit. However, many of them lack the right kind of facilities and amenities. At Fit Social, we are filling the gap with quality lifestyle solutions so that women can spend half a day to work out, remain fit and pamper themselves with lifestyle activities.”
Fit Social health, fitness and lifestyle destination is for the women, by the women and of the women. No men are allowed within the premises – to ensure privacy and exclusivity – and to make women feel at home.
More than 30.6 percent UAE women suffer from obesity while a further 34.3 percent UAE women remain overweight, according to the Global Obesity Observatory. The economic impact of overweight and obesity in the UAE was estimated to be US$11.67 billion in 2019.
“This is equivalent to US$1,194 per capita and 2.8 percent of GDP. Direct costs and indirect costs made up 12 percent and 88 percent of total costs respectively. By 2060, economic impacts are predicted to increase to US$179.29 billion. This is equivalent to US$16,874 per capita and 11 percent of GDP, and represents a 15.5-fold increase in total costs,” said the report by Global Obesity Observatory.
The prevalence of obesity among adults in the UAE is 27.8 percent according to the National Health Survey of 2017-18. The high obesity rate prompts more and more UAE residents to spend time and resources at health and fitness facilities – to increase their life span.
World Obesity Federation noted that the consequences of obesity could cause spending of $1.2 trillion annually from 2025. Obesity and smoking are the major causes of the rise in the number of people with cancer, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes worldwide. A report issued by the World Health Organization predicts that 2.7 billion adults worldwide will be overweight and obese by 2025.
A whitepaper by Cigna Insurance Middle East (CIME), interestingly, reveals that women in UAE have got fitter – starting with the lowest physical well-being score of 59.2 in 2018, women in UAE have risen to 63.2 in 2022. The UAE women have thus surpassed not only global women well-being index (which slipped to 58.2) but also men globally at 61.7.
However, more and more men and women in the UAE are joining fitness programmes that increases the demand for quality health and fitness facilities. Fit Social’s new women-only facility will cater to the demand.
“This is a one-of-a-kind exclusive health, fitness, wellness and lifestyle destination for women who care about their health and lifestyle,” Lakshmi Menon says. “It is a complete destination in itself where women can take not only personalized health and nutrition training, but could spend 3-4 hours in working out, swimming, relaxing, undertake spa treatment and help themselves with healthy food and drinks.
“We have created this facility very carefully, investing a lot of resources and taking great care in selecting the equipment, human resources to help every woman feel like being at home. It is good for home-makers, professionals and businesswomen – who want to remain fit – and enjoy a healthy and long life.”
Fit Social has opened the membership with a 30 percent discount for the first month of its operation while the members will get the services in the holy Month of Ramadan for free.
