PE ‘fattest’ in health survey
Friendly City folk also make some poor food choices, says index of SA cities
THE fattest – and with some poor food choices – is the picture painted of Port Elizabeth residents in the latest Discovery ObeCity 2017 Index. The index, which looks at the weight status and food purchasing behaviour of nearly half a million Vitality members, also showed that, over the past three years, Port Elizabeth residents had made the least improvement when it came to shedding weight.
The index was last published in 2014 with six South African cities – Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein – included in the survey.
On the bright side, however, there was some improvement, with 4% of those living in the Bay slimming down.
Capetonians topped the list of those who shaved off centimetres, with 7% tightening their belts.
Cape Town residents were also rated tops when it came to those within a healthy weight range, with 53.5% fitting the bill.
Coming in second and third for healthy weights were those from Johannesburg and Durban with 52.% and 51.8%, respectively.
It is little wonder that Bay residents faltered when it came to fighting flab, as fruit and vegetable purchases are not high priorities.
Coming second last for these purchases, Durban placed sixth, buying 34% less fruit and vegetables compared with Cape Town, the winning city.
Port Elizabeth, nevertheless, managed a respectable third spot in food purchase rankings, thanks in part due to residents’ resistance to buying salt and sugar.
In both categories Port Elizabeth scored second, with Durban taking top honours.
Vitality Wellness head Dr Craig Nossel said while some positive trends were noted, South Africa had a long way to go to combat obesity.
He pointed out South Africans spend more 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,” Nossel said.
“This is compounded by the fact that we’re exercising less with more sedentary lifestyles.”
He said the number of obese South Africans was not without consequence.
“It means that more people are now at increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and premature death,” Nossel said.
“Our data shows that being obese increases healthcare costs by as much as R4 400 per person per year.
“It’s no surprise we find ourselves in this situation as our eating habits have changed for the worse in recent decades.”
According to the report, the number of people who die worldwide each year as a result of being overweight or obese is 4.5 million.
Reviewing the results, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina Barry Popkin said: “By reducing purchasing of unhealthy confectionery, convenience meals and processed meats, a half unit of Body Mass Index would be decreased and reducing sugary drinks and salty snacks would produce a similar impact.”