Bahrain is set to launch a major survey involving thousands of people to examine the state of health of nationals as well as expatriates aged 18 and above, a report said.

A sample of 6,000 adults will have their weight, height, vision and blood pressure recorded, in addition to undergoing diabetes and cholesterol tests, as part of a global study by the World Health Organisation (WHO), reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Data collected will be included in the World Health Survey 2013, which will rank countries around the world on their health.

"A total of 6,000 men and women aged 18 and above will be covered under the World Health Survey," said Health Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Aysha Mubarak Buaneq.

A Press conference to announce the project took place yesterday at the ministry's headquarters, in Juffair.

Dr Buaneq said the 2013 survey would be used by authorities to come up with health policies.

"Bahrain has adopted the World Health Survey methods to obtain health-related demographic, social and health data," she said. "These are required to plan and deliver better health services in Bahrain."

Information will be collected through online questionnaires and tests at local health centres, with participants being asked details such as whether they smoke, how often they exercise and how much fruit and vegetables they have in their diet.

"This important survey will help us diagnose health problems and gather information to draw up effective strategies," added Dr Buaneq.

Public Health and Primary Care Assistant Under-Secretary Dr Mariam Al Jalahma said the last national health survey was conducted in 2007, when 2,037 people aged 20 to 64 were interviewed.

"The results of the 2007 survey showed that 14.3 per cent of the population were diabetic, 38.2 per cent had high blood pressure, 36 per cent were overweight and 40.6 per cent had high cholesterol levels," she said.

Dr Al Jalahama added that a lack of exercise combined with unhealthy lifestyles was a key problem identified in the previous survey. – TradeArabia News Service