SA’s expanding waistline
JOBURG — SA has jumped to the top three of the fattest country, competing with developed countries.
South Africa recently tipped the scale as the fattest country in Africa and the third fattest in the world.
The move for most South Africans from urbanisation to westernisation has contributed to the increase of obesity, with the availability of refined and fast foods.
According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) global health report, worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980 and is now linked with more deaths worldwide than underweight.
“At least 65 per cent of middle aged women are obese, and 52 per cent of the moderate obese person in the country think that they are healthy, although this not true,” said founder of the Eden Life Wellness Clinic, Paula Galvao.
A report by WHO shows that in 2013, the number of overweight children under the age of five was at 42 million globally. Childhood obesity, in itself is one of the more serious health challenges of the 21st century.
People can start making small changes in their diet by simply replacing refined foods with more wholesome and organic ones.
• Limit energy intake from total fats and shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats and toward the elimination of trans-fatty acids
• Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, and legumes, whole grains and nuts
• Limit the intake of free sugars
• Limit salt (sodium) consumption from all sources and ensure that salt is iodised.
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