Misguided advice on diet, gym workouts ‘doing more harm than good’, say fitness specialists

Fitness specialists say that unreliable information on the internet and poorly researched advice can have a negative influence on those eager to join gyms. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 19 September 2021
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Misguided advice on diet, gym workouts ‘doing more harm than good’, say fitness specialists

  • "I have heard a lot of wrong facts and tips about sports. A lot of people on social media don’t have a certificate in fitness, and I see them advising people based on their personal experience and not studies"
  • Fitness myth-busters come out fighting

JEDDAH: With interest in sport surging in the Kingdom, Saudis embarking on gym and exercise regimes have been warned to beware of self-appointed “experts” peddling fitness myths that can ruin workouts and even damage health.

Fitness specialists say that unreliable information on the internet and poorly researched advice can have a negative influence on those eager to join gyms.

Extreme diets and exercise programs can cause more harm than good, they warn.

Yumna Khalid, a 23-year-old university student, told Arab News that she has had many such experiences at her gym but has finally learned how to deal with them.




Extreme diets and exercise programs can cause more harm than good, experts warn

“Someone once told me that the more she sweats, the more fat she will lose, and that if she is not sweating heavily, her workout will not work. I said nothing but sympathized with the woman since she was working out wearing a hoodie in the scorching heat of Jeddah.”

Khalid said that people “should just listen to their bodies” to judge if a workout or diet is right for them.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Yumna Khalid, a 23-year-old university student, said that people ‘should just listen to their bodies’ to judge if a workout or diet is right for them.

• Nouf Hamdallah, a fitness trainer with nine years’ experience, said ‘the problem with these people is that they think what they are doing is the only right way. ‘They should just focus on themselves and not spread information that they aren’t sure about.’

• Suliman Abduljawad, a Guinness world record holder in fitness, said ‘one of the mistaken things that people are trading is that the female body is harder to train — that’s not true, it’s a simple science.’

“The body has a way of telling you. Do the workout that makes you feel good during and afterwards. If a workout or a diet feels wrong then just don’t do it. Listen to your body and you will be set.”

She added: “But listen to it when it is being reasonable and not at 3 a.m. when you want to eat eight donuts and a tub of ice cream.”

Casey Ho, a YouTuber who has been uploading home workout videos since 2009, was subjected to a wave of hate after announcing that she wanted to lose weight and get in the best shape of her life.

In her video, titled “How I lost 17.5 pounds in 12 weeks — My 90-Day Journey,” she said: “No, I don’t have an eating disorder. No, I don’t have a body image disorder. No, I don’t hate myself and, no, this journey wasn’t for you — it was for me.”

In a podcast called Off the Pills, Ho said that the body positive movement has grown so much over the years that now if someone wants to lose weight and look a certain way, they are labeled “anti-body positive” and kicked out of the community.

Returning to unhealthy habits is not the answer, she said. “It is a commitment of a lifetime.”




The trainer urged gym-goers to avoid training others if they are unqualified, adding that there was a big chance the advice might be harmful. (Shutterstock)

Nouf Hamdallah, a fitness trainer with nine years’ experience, said: “The problem with these people is that they think what they are doing is the only right way. They should just focus on themselves and not spread information that they aren’t sure about.”

According to Hamdallah, the best way to deal with such people is to ask: “What is the source of the information?”

She added: “They will think back on what they have said and if they do have a genuine source, you can take their advice.”

The trainer also urged gym-goers to avoid training others if they are unqualified, adding that there was a big chance the advice might be harmful.

Hamdallah said that a healthy lifestyle is about changing habits little by little, and is not about following a particular diet. “People tend to get the two mixed.

For a healthy life, it’s just a caloric deficit, physical activity and enough sleep. It’s very simple.”

The trainer defined her personal experience as a series of trial and error, and said that still tries new approaches and methods in her diet and during her workouts.

She also said that her schedules are flexible, and she will not force herself to do something that does not feel right.

Depending on body type, results can take up to a year to show, while sometimes it is just three months, Hamdallah added.

I believe that a lot of Saudis can break a lot of records. I’ve seen the potential they have, but I think they just don’t know how to do it. I am more than happy to guide and help them.

Suliman Abduljawad, Guinness world record holder in fitness

However, according to Khalid, adopting a healthier lifestyle is not as tricky as it sometimes appears.

“I promise you, a healthy lifestyle isn’t just boiled chicken breast and white rice or a sad piece of bread. Now, more than ever, you can find delicious foods on the internet that is so good that you won’t even miss the sugar-filled or fried foods that you crave.”

Khalid said that she was discouraged because people kept telling her that she was eating, drinking and exercising the wrong way, and she was not seeing results in fitness. She later discovered that it takes time to change.

“That is OK. I have my own pace and I am happy with that,” she said.

Adding to the warnings, a Saudi champ has joined the fight against fitness myths

Suliman Abduljawad, a Guinness world record holder in fitness, joined social media to campaign for better messaging around fitness and exercise.

“I have heard a lot of wrong facts and tips about sports. A lot of people on social media don’t have a certificate in fitness, and I see them advising people based on their personal experience and not studies,” he told Arab News.

Abduljawad said that he decided to step in and educate people about the “rights and wrongs” of training.

The fitness champ said that he receives messages every day from followers asking him about information they read online.

Female personal trainers in Saudi Arabia are expensive compared with other countries because of the myths, he said.

“One of the mistaken things that people are trading is that the female body is harder to train — that’s not true, it’s a simple science,” Abduljawad said.

He also rejects the claim that training is bad for children. “I have a son, I cannot wait until he is 3 years old to train him. People say that children should not train, which is wrong. Their training is fun and they will enjoy it.”

Abduljawad said that he read Guinness World Records books as a child and wondered why there were no Saudi record-holders. It was then that he decided to work hard on himself.

He eventually broke two world records after a long journey — one in side jump push-up and one in archer push-up in 2020.

“I believe that a lot of Saudis can break a lot of records. I’ve seen the potential they have, but I think they just don’t know how to do it. I am more than happy to guide and help them.”

Abduljawad offers online training and dreams of having his own gym one day. “I’m aiming break 10 more world records.”


Saudi Arabia welcomes US-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and DR Congo

Updated 28 June 2025
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Saudi Arabia welcomes US-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and DR Congo

  • Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Kingdom hopes accord would meet “the hopes and aspirations of two peoples for development and prosperity”

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed the signing of a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a deal facilitated by the United States with support from Qatar, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Kingdom hoped the accord would meet “the hopes and aspirations of the two peoples for development and prosperity,” and contribute to “regional and international security and peace.”

The ministry also praised “the diplomatic efforts and constructive role played by the United States of America and the State of Qatar in this regard.”

The agreement, finalized on Friday, aims to de-escalate long-running tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, which have intensified in recent years over accusations of mutual support for armed rebel groups operating along their shared border.

The most prominent of these is the M23 militia, which Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of backing — a charge Kigali denies.

Efforts to mediate between the two neighbours have gained urgency amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, where conflict has displaced more than seven million people.

The US and Qatar have played key roles in recent months in bringing the two sides to the table for talks, culminating in the formal agreement to ease hostilities and commit to renewed dialogue.


Jeddah exhibition gives internet cafes an artistic reboot

Seventeen artists and collectives have had their work on display at ‘Internet Cafe,’ an exhibition inspired by the digital age.
Updated 29 June 2025
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Jeddah exhibition gives internet cafes an artistic reboot

  • Local artists revive communal, quirky, deeply human qualities of early web era

JEDDAH: Internet cafes in Jeddah were once popular spots with pay-by-the-hour internet access; they have now provided the inspiration for the city’s latest exhibition.

In a collaboration between Kham Space and Estiraha, 17 artists and collectives have had their work on display at “Internet Cafe,” an eight-day exhibition which explored the concept of connection and intimacy in the digital age.

Asaad Badawi’s installation paid tribute to early programmer culture. (Supplied)

Abeer Sultan, who curated the exhibition alongside Mbarak Madhi and Fai Ahmed, spoke to Arab News about the early process in contemplating the theme.

The idea for the exhibition, which concluded on Saturday, stemmed from an exasperation over incessant scrolling, and the deluge of information that has usurped our daily lives.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The idea for the Jeddah exhibition stemmed from an exasperation over incessant scrolling, and the deluge of information that has usurped our daily lives.

• Some of the works were meant to act as ‘hyperlinks’ to connect ideas, as well as creating a communal space and mimicking the social space of a cafe.

She said: “We wanted to do something that is about us now, and maybe the future as well; not only going back to things for nostalgia or the good old days, as they say.

‘Closed eyes under a sunny sky I’ by Zahiyah Alraddadi. (Supplied)

“Maybe it has something that we can use today, especially now that there’s a movement of people trying to slow down, using dumbified devices throughout the internet.”

Instead of creating a literal internet cafe, the curators focused more on the nuances a cybercafe used to have.

"F.A.R." by Dalal Madhi's work. (Supplied)

Their approach to the space was categorized into three themes: “Disconnected Understanding, Linked Source,” “In the Shadow of a Doubt, Light My Screen,” and “Whirling Algorithms of a Distant Dream.”

Artist Zahiyah Alraddadi, who usually paints works focusing on the significance of the mundane, took oil to canvas to paint “Closed Eyes Under a Sunny Sky I” and “Familiar Features.”

The a piece by Ahaad Alamoudi, “Land of Dreams” takes a humorous approach. (Supplied)

Her work feels meditative and was intended to slow visitors down as they walked through the space — much like the feel of a buffering screen page.

Some of the works were meant to act as “hyperlinks” to connect ideas, as well as creating a communal space and mimicking the social space of a cafe.   

Studio bin Hattan, which is led by artist Elham Dawsari, displays “Cultural Override” derived from her father’s archives from the 80s, who was interested in computer graphics. (Supplied)

Anhar Salem’s work “After Now” was a curtain imprinted with thumbnails of YouTube videos. The artist conducted a survey asking people between the ages of 18 and 40 to share their YouTube video recommendations, making up a curtain of information overload.

Next to that, Tara O‛Conal’s video installation was a film sequence — but the catch is, nothing really happened. The film continued to load, glitch, and reload, perhaps suggesting commentary on our constant yearning for contact.

Hayfa Al-Gwaiz’s “Long Distance” is a painted form of FaceTime video calls. The work explores digital intimacy by centering not the callers’ faces, but the ceilings above them. (Supplied)

“Compared to Anhar’s work, (Tara’s) feels like a pond, in a way, to look at,” Sultan said.

Some works were inspired by computer graphics. Asaad Badawi paid tribute to early programmer culture via telephone-book-inspired art, and his father, who is a programmer.

Madhawi Al-Gwaiz's works are painted in a graphic style that is reminiscent of early 00s and '10s graphics styles. (Supplied)

Studio bin Hattan, which is led by artist Elham Dawsari, displayed “Cultural Override,” derived from her father’s archives from the 1980s. Madhawi Al-Gwaiz paints in a style that echoes digital graphics from the early 2000s.

Others took a more distanced approach. ThirdSpace’s “Untitled Table” was a physical object, but the research behind it was about keyboards that then shifted to Hijazi architecture, drawing on the iconography and architectural languages across the history of the region.  

Tara O‛conal’s video installation is a film sequence in nature—but the catch is, nothing really happens. The film continues to glitch and reload, perhaps suggesting commentary on our constant yearning for contact. (Supplied)

Hayfa Al-Gwaiz’s “Long Distance” was a painted form of facetime video calls. The work explored digital intimacy by showcasing not the callers’ faces, but the ceilings above them — a scene that’s familiar to anyone who has taken up a long-winded video call with a loved one and set down the phone to cater to life’s more immediate demands.

While the exhibition tackled the digital boom personified through cybercafes, it notably avoided artificial intelligence.

Sultan explained: “It is the idea of being fast and efficient, which is what we are resisting with AI …  It’s dominating the internet in a weird way, and we wanted a space where people customized things manually, going back to montadayat (domains) where people had to do things by themselves. There’s no template.”

The last piece was by Ahaad Alamoudi, and “Land of Dreams” took a humorous approach to directing audiences to their dreams. As you walked toward the work, in an outdoor area outside the confines of the exhibition space, visitors were met with vinyl boards of the iconic Emirati singer Ahlam.

Sultan said: “The work accentuates the fact that the dream land is a subjective experience or idea, and everyone would have their own imagination of what that is, whether it's Ahlam or something else.”

The “Internet Cafe” was a love letter to a new digital age — one that is sustainable, communal, and deliberately slow.  

“This is our way of keeping in touch with other people. An exhibition space is also a space where people meet, even if it’s for a moment, to have these conversations together, which is really important,” Sultan said.

 


Rooted in earth: Rafha’s mud structures tell a story of sustainability

Updated 28 June 2025
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Rooted in earth: Rafha’s mud structures tell a story of sustainability

  • The buildings were constructed using indigenous methods and natural materials including mud, stone, wood, and palm fronds

RIYADH: In the heart of northern Saudi Arabia, the mud buildings of Rafha stand as “a vibrant narrative of traditional architecture, reflecting authenticity, creativity, and cultural identity,” the Saudi Press Agency said in an article on Saturday.

These structures tell the story of an ancient past, “embodying traditional architectural ingenuity that connects people to the land.”

Rafha’s historic mud structures are an appealing destination for anyone interested in history, heritage, and traditional craftsmanship. (SPA)

Located along one of the Kingdom’s most significant tourist routes, the buildings “integrate cultural heritage with the natural environment,” the SPA wrote, and “serve as living records of generational memory, preserved through architectural details.”

This makes them an appealing destination for anyone interested in history, heritage, and traditional craftsmanship.

FASTFACTS

• The buildings in Rafha were constructed using indigenous methods and natural materials including mud, stone, wood, and palm fronds.

• Local authorities are making efforts to restore and maintain these mud structures, preserving their historical and cultural value.

The buildings were constructed using indigenous methods and natural materials including mud, stone, wood, and palm fronds. Their design responds to the local environment, maintaining balanced indoor temperatures during scorching summers and cooler winters. Most feature an inner courtyard, surrounded by rooms arranged in a circular layout, reflecting a strong sense of community.

Rafha’s historic mud structures are an appealing destination for anyone interested in history, heritage, and traditional craftsmanship. (SPA)

These mud buildings illustrate “a deep harmony between humans and their environment,” the SPA wrote, adding that they also “reflect sustainable building principles that long predate modern green architecture.”

Local authorities are making efforts to restore and maintain these mud structures, preserving their historical and cultural value while promoting them as distinct parts of the Saudi tourism landscape.

 


Malaysia grants Saudi Hajj minister Al-Rabiah 'Hijra Personality of the Year' award

Updated 28 June 2025
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Malaysia grants Saudi Hajj minister Al-Rabiah 'Hijra Personality of the Year' award

  • Tawfiq Al-Rabiah Al-Rabiah was presented with his award by Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah received the International Tokoh Ma’al Hijrah 2025 award in Malaysia on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Malaysia grants the award — the name of which translates to Person of the Year for Hijrah — annually to an influential Muslim personality to recognize their contributions to Islamic causes.

Al-Rabiah won the award for his efforts in developing systems designed to make Hajj and Umrah run safely and smoothly for pilgrims.

Al-Rabiah was presented with his award by Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Minister of Religious Affairs Mohammed Naeem bin Mukhtar were present at the ceremony.

The event was held in Kuala Lumpur on the occasion of Hijri New Year.

 


Muslim World League condemns Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza, West Bank

Updated 28 June 2025
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Muslim World League condemns Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza, West Bank

  • Organization describes actions as part of wider pattern of settler aggression

RIYADH: The Muslim World League on Saturday strongly condemned recent Israeli attacks on civilian shelters and ongoing violence against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The MWL has described the actions as part of a wider pattern of settler aggression carried out with impunity under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces, the SPA added.

The MWL’s Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who also chairs the Organization of Muslim Scholars, denounced in a statement issued by the MWL’s General Secretariat what he called “heinous crimes” committed against unarmed civilians, including recent attacks by settlers on the village of Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah.

He added that the “brutal assaults” were a “blatant violation of all human values as well as international laws and norms.”

He urged the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities and take decisive action against what he described as the occupation government’s ongoing disregard for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.

Al-Issa also called for the immediate activation of international mechanisms to halt the violence and ensure accountability for those responsible for what he termed “horrific massacres.”

His comments came after Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday condemning the violence, denouncing “the continued violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers, under the protection of the occupation forces, against Palestinian civilians, including the attacks in the village of Kafr Malik.”