The prospects of losing weight in general, and Qatar in particular, are rather grim.

Qatar has been on the top of the WHO's list of obesity and diabetes and this is no laughing matter.

People say it is the weather and the water. That is crap.

It is the two of three top killers of human beings, improper diet and inactivity (the other one is smoking) which are responisble for the obesity epidemic.

Losing weight according to some expert is impossible, especially maintaing weight loss for a period over one year. Recent research suggests otherwise. According to latest research, although it is not impossible, it is extremely difficult to lose and 'MAINTAIN' a healthy weight.

Unfortunately, there is just no shortcut to losing weight. There are just two things you can work on and everyone knows what they are: diet and exercise. It is important, however, to know a little bit about diet and exercise.

Sweets (carbs) in any form is poison for the obese but refined sugars (the ones in colas, bakery, pastry and cakes etc) is really lethal. Carbonated drinks, even the diet ones, are independent risk factors. The most common mistake while dieting is to eat less. It is not just about eating less, it is all about eating the right food. You can stuff yourself with vegetables and it wont probably do much harm, but just take one cola a day, and it would ensure weight loss will forever remain a dream.

As to exercise, the more, the better. Exercise must be "SLOW and SUSTAINED", rather than in spurts. It must be regular also. It is essential to sleep well also. If you are not sleeping well, you do not need to exercise: coz it is not doing you any good, it is doing harm. You lose more calories (and burn more fat) while sleeping than when awake watching tv or using the internet or something idle like that.

Finally, the most important factor, in my own personal and professional experience, is motivation. If you do not have the resolve it takes, you would not lose weight: simple. You must be fully determined to achieve your goal and must be ready to undertake anything that it requires. You must be willing to sweat your ass every day (it is not easy) for at least half hour by jogging or running and you must sacrifice those sweets and burgers. It is possible.