LG has augmented its healthcare collection of digital household appliances with eight new products, specifically designed to address the needs of Middle East households and provide optimum hygiene in the home and office.

The products, which included the Macro washing machine, Eddy dishwasher, Shine refrigerator, Titan premium and Titan air cruiser air conditioner, Steam Kompressor plus vacuum cleaner, Solardom lightweight oven and the Airbus air purifier, were launched at the first MEA Healthcare Conference held in Dubai today (June 24).

The products were developed with input from a survey conducted by Synovate, LG’s research partner.

The forum focused on addressing issues that are specifically relevant to local populations and supports practical advancements in health and hygiene at home and in the workplace.

“Lifestyles in the Middle East region have changed dramatically over recent years, influencing the way people live, their diets and habits, what products are available in the shops and the environmental conditions that affect health at work and at home,” said K W Kim, president of LG Electronics Gulf.

“We also see a firm belief amongst the population that home appliance technology can have a positive role in combating these issues that result from this progress. LG strives to remain a pioneer of technology, especially when it comes to issues that really matter to our customers. Health is at the very root of all of our concerns, and so forms the basis for innovation in LG’s home appliance product development,” he added.

“This year’s research highlights a growing awareness of health and hygiene issues and a clear connection with the growing socio-economic affluence in the Middle East.”

Across the Middle East, the majority of those surveyed view home appliance technology as having an impact in tackling health issues, particularly those relating to nutrition and respiration. In the UAE 75 per cent of residents believe that new home appliances can have a positive impact on health.

Unprompted survey responses identifying areas where technology can best prevent these health issues included removing dust in the home environment, refreshing air in the home, preserving food freshness and nutritional value, and sterilization and allergy care.

These factors of modern living highlight the priorities and growing health and hygiene concerns of Middle East residents as the region’s socio-economic advancement continues.

Results of the survey, which interviewed 250 respondents in each of four selected regional markets, i.e., UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Iran, showed a growing concern for healthy and hygienic living, as 80 per cent of residents consider there are more health problems now than in the past, and on average the same proportion of people are increasingly concerned by its implications.

In the UAE – where ozone levels in many areas are registering above guidelines set by the World Health Organisation – 88 per cent of people highlight respiratory problems as the highest concern and diagnosed cases have risen 8.2 per cent since 2005.

Dust, pollution and bacteria in the air are identified by residents as the main causes of the problem.

The survey also revealed that nutrition issues are also a major concern in the UAE, followed by skin concerns, although the study revealed that two-thirds of the population (63 per cent) are not prepared to exercise in order to balance their choice of food intake.

Official figures show that over 60 per cent of Emirati nationals are overweight and as many as one in seven children under the age of five is seriously deficient in essential nutrients , largely due to a changing and more affluent lifestyle that has increased access to and consumption of fast foods and carbonated drinks.

Contaminated foods, bad refrigeration of foods and a lack of fresh goods available are highlig