Kids at risk! BVI urged to fight obesity
In observance of World Obesity Day (March 4), Health Minister Vincent Wheatley reminded the community to make healthy lifestyle choices in order to reduce obesity, which is now affecting a significant number of minors.
“We’re even seeing the far-reaching hands of obesity at the primary school level,” Minister Wheatley said in an address to the community recently. “The 2023 School Health Assessment indicated that 44 per cent of primary school children are overweight and obese. That very scary statistic leads us to ask how and why? In my opinion, we are becoming more dependent on processed foods, which are usually high in sugar and salt, coupled with inactivity and unhealthy choices.”
Minister Wheatley also reminded residents that recent statistics show that obesity affects some 40 per cent of adults between the ages of 25-64 years in the BVI.
“The manner in which we prepare our meals, our choices of ingredients, our portion sizes and even the beverages we consume all contribute to potential risks,” the minister said.
Obesity continues to be a major issue in the Caribbean. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), countries with the highest combined rates of underweight and obesity in 2022 were island nations in the Pacific and the Caribbean and those in the Middle East and North Africa.
WHO also said a new study released by the Lancet shows that, in 2022, more than 1 billion people in the world are now living with obesity. Worldwide, obesity among adults has more than doubled since 1990, and has quadrupled among children and adolescents (five to 19 years of age). The data also show that 43 percent of adults were overweight in 2022.
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Obesity has been increasing since we were told to eat less meat, more fruits (lots of sugar in then) and more grains… we should all go back to the basics (farmer’s produce and butcher products). Meat is really important.
Thank you for providing the least scientific explanation for obesity possible.
A diet high in fibres / plants / low in meat are associated with lower levels of obesity.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33061504/
Added some actual evidence to counter your “bro-science”
You sound so silly you probably and obese lard arse yourself LOL.
Parents and guardians should NOT make their family member feel insecure by highlighting their size if they’re on the chubby side or even if they’re skinny.
There’s a right way to encourage healthy weight.
The shaming can lead to insecurity, low self esteem, and worse.
Work out together but don’t over do it, don’t starve just eat healthier portions and enjoy a treat but practice control.
What about a war faint lieing; you can’t serve 2 masters.
Parents of obese kids should be prosecuted (unless there is a genuine medical reason for the obesity).
I totally agree that’s a form of abuse. One of the deadly sins.
Start with the crappie that food vendors are allowed to sell to children on school grounds. And don’t tell me no stupidness about what sells. I will never forget this was the excuse from that horrible principal at St georges primary. Chastising parents while selling sh!t in the cafeteria.
Would like a million times if I could
Obesity factors include diet, sedentary life style, genetics, and impulse control. Many over eat because they are depressed often because of poor self image. What we eat is based on what we learned to eat growing up as well as what is available. Often easier to find snacks that are unhealthy (if eaten regularly) than fresh food. An option would be to increase import duties on these types of snacks so as to underwrite import duties on fresh food and veg.
Try and buy sugar free drinks/ products in the supermarkets. Practically impossible to find, but plenty of Chubbies for the chubbies. Diabetes, the 4th Pillar of the BVI.
NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION SIR THE PURPLE PALACE IS MORE /EQUIPPED / MORE
MACHINES ETC THE GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL NIS SUPPOSED TO BE NUMBER ONE IN ANY COUNTRY , ( JUST IMAGINE GOING TO THE GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL AND BEING TURND AWAY AND BE TOLD NICELY THAT * WE DON’T DO THAT HERE , CHECK UP BA
yes dieting and what we eat plays a vital role, but at the end of the day most kids stay indoors with their eyes glued to either the television, phones or all other electrical devices and gadgets…growing up we used to be outside play hopscotch, rounders, jump rope and aother ring games…we as parents also have a part to play…
A minister, ideally, should be someone with medical training and experience, for that person would have insights a none medical will never have.
The more we think we going forward, the more ackward we seem to be going.
Fifty years ago I had no difficulty finding lithe models for the paintings and sculptures in my series “Daughters of the Caribbean Sun”. I found them working the land, bathing in the rivers, or walking to their place of work.
I now alas, search in vain.
Expected when junk food is cheap and healthy food is expensive. Reduce import taxes on healthy food and raise import taxes in junk food. Ensure that retailers keep certain healthy foods within a certain price range. Ban junk food in schools. Our future doesn’t look good. Young people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, kidney and liver disease just to make a few. NHI can’t keep up now, much less…