As the country joins the global community to mark World Obesity Day, the Department of Health has urged people to engage in regular physical activity and follow a balanced eating plan.
World Obesity Day is aimed at raising awareness and improving understanding of obesity root causes and actions needed to address them, and tackling the associated stigma.
Obesity has become one of the biggest health crises faced by people today around the world.
According to the World Health Organization, obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, claiming at least 2.8 million lives annually, while 1 in 8 people in the world were living with obesity in 2022.
‘Evidence shows that interventions (such as improved diet and physical activity) introduced to tackle obesity have the potential benefits to reduce the incidence of NCDs and its burden on healthcare spending, individuals and their families.
‘The Department of Health urges people to engage in regular physical activity; drink [sufficient] water; serve the correct
amount of food to avoid overeating; limit the consumption of foods and drinks high in sugar, salt and fat, and snack on fresh vegetables and fruits instead of salty snacks or sugary treats,’ the department said in a statement.
The department highlighted that the rise in obesity poses a serious challenge to public health worldwide, with South Africa being amongst the countries with the highest overweight and obesity rates.
According to the 2016 national survey, 68% of women and 31% of men are either overweight or obese, while 13% of children under the age of 5 are overweight.
In terms of obesity, at least 41% of women have obesity, with 20% of them falling in the severe obesity category. In contrast, only 11% of men have obesity. The prevalence of obesity among women rose from 27% in 1998 to 41% in 2016. There was very little change in obesity amongst men, with only a 2% increase during the same period.
‘These worrying figures underscore the need for effective prevention interventions to address obesity an
d promote healthier lifestyles and setting nutrition standards for food and beverages provided in places like Early Child Development Centres, schools, community nutrition development centres and other feeding programmes,’ the department said.
The department said the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity among people contributes to the onset of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and cancer, which are currently the biggest threats to health and development among populations.
Women with obesity are at increased risk of miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, induced labour, and are less likely to initiate breastfeeding. On the other hand, obese men are at a higher risk of developing cancers of the colon, rectum and erectile dysfunction.
‘The words obesity and overweight are often confused and used interchangeably. However, these are two related health conditions with slightly different meanings. Overweight is when a body mass index (a value derived fr
om the mass and height of a person) is greater than or equal to 25, whereas obesity is a BMI greater than or equal to 30,’ the department explained.
The department said while many people exercise day and night to keep fit and healthy, it is important to know the 80/20 rule for weight loss, which emphasises that nutrition contributes 80% and routine exercise contributes only 20% when it comes to losing weight.
‘This means that as long as you don’t make healthier food choices, physical activities will do less to reduce obesity.
‘The department urges employers to support efforts by government and other stakeholders by creating healthy and productive working environments for employees as part of health and wellness programmes.
‘This includes establishing wellness centres and serving healthier food menus in their canteens,’ the department said.
Source: South African Government News Agency