Obesity on the rise
OBESITY is globally the number one non- communicable disease, responsible for 4.5 million deaths per year and with South Africa having one of the highest obesity rates in the world, a call for change is imminent.
According to the 2017 Vitality ObeCity Index, which presents the latest insights on national weight status (measured by Body Mass Index and waist circumference), half of South Africans aged 15 years and older are classified as being overweight with 12% of men and 40% of women obese.
The World Obesity Federation (WOF) estimates that this will increase to 60% of South African adults classified as overweight or obese by 2025 and if action is not taken, the health consequences of obesity will overburden the health care system and decreased productivity will stifle economic progress.
Figures released by the WOF recently revealed that the economic impact of obesity in South Africa was estimated to be R701 billion each year.
One of the most important factors contributing to the obesity epidemic are changes in dietary patterns characterised by the increased consumption of sugar, salt, fat and animal products.
Ultra-processed food contains high percentages of most of these products.
In South Africa, sales of ready-made meals, snack bars and instant noodles increased by 40% between 2005 and 2010.
Fast food consumption continues to grow, negatively impacting our weight.
Dr Craig Nossel, the head of Vitality Wellness, said: “Statistics show that South Africans now spend more money on beer than on vegetables and fruit combined. We are increasingly foregoing whole, fresh foods in favour of energy-dense processed foods and sugary soft drinks. This is compounded by the fact that we’re exercising less with more sedentary lifestyles.”
Nossel added: “We see a direct correlation between weight status and health outcomes. People with an unhealthy bodyweight incur a direct increase in healthcare costs of approximately R4 400 per person per year. We also know that the purchase of healthy foods has a positive impact on BMI and the associated risks of developing chronic diseases of lifestyle.”
Discovery data shows that members, who purchase healthy foods, have a 10% lower BMI compared to those, who purchase unhealthy foods.
The same purchasing behaviour is associated with up to R2 500 lower health costs per year.
High unemployment levels and inflation are also said to drive food insecurity.
Nuraan Cader, spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA), said under-nutrition and over-nutrition have become part of the same problem.
“These seemingly opposite conditions are found in the same communities and even within the same households. A low household income results in a monotonous diet based on refined starch, little protein, poor diversity of fruit and vegetables, and salt as the main taste enhancer.
“With urbanisation, many traditional vegetables and legumes, which provided some good nutrition, are readily replaced by cheap processed meat, crisps, deep fried foods, and sugary snacks and drinks. Food choices are mostly driven by price and accessibility.”
He said a high risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and premature death was a concerning consequence of this.
Obesity is assessed by a person’s BMI.
BMI is calculated by person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of the person’s height in metres (kg/m²).
A normal weight range is defined as a BMI range of between 18.5 – 24.9.
A person is defined as overweight if they have a BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 and are obese if their BMI is over 30.0.
World Obesity Week and World Nutrition Week was observed recently and the South African government and health organisations have since rallied behind the idea of motivating for lifestyle change.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA, however, called on all role-players, including government, the corporate sector, civil society, and the food sector, to act decisively to bring about permanent change.
“The World Health Organisation and the World Obesity Federation both recommend systemic changes to battle obesity. This includes promoting intake of healthy foods and physical activity, preventing obesity pre-emptively during pregnancy and in early childhood, and improving access to weight management services.
“Environmental changes to improve access to affordable healthy food and opportunities to be physically active is important, whether at school, at work or in communities. Policies to tax unhealthy food and initiatives to subsidise healthier choices are also recommended and cost-effective.
“Finally, there should be continued pressure on food manufacturers to limit marketing of unhealthy foods and reformulate products,” said Cader
Gabriel Eksteen, Nutrition Science Manager of HFSA, also urged South Africans and their families to adopt a healthier eating behaviour as a start to fighting obesity.
“The first step is to realise that your behaviour is harmful and have a desire to change this.
“Set achievable and realistic goals. Most attempts to change dietary habits fails because changes are not realistic for some reason or another. It may be due to affordability, taste preferences, too opportunistic, or new habits clash with everyday routines.”