By Vanessa Cort
IT seems that Guyanese are not taking seriously enough the tremendous impact that overweight has on the two main non-communicable diseases (NCDs)primarily responsible for deaths in this country – diabetes and hypertension.
In fact, obesity is on the rise, not just in Guyana but worldwide and is fast becoming yet another health crisis. We Guyanese, however, are often reluctant to admit to or even recognise excessive weight gain in ourselves or others. We use euphemisms like ‘thick’ to describe weight which far exceeds our body mass index (BMI).
Indeed, many of us are blissfully unaware of the BMI chart, which indicates what our weight should be in relation to our height, while others who may be aware simply choose to ignore it. But we know what our bathroom scales tell us and the tags on our clothing, when we move into the large (X) category and beyond. We know when our movement becomes slower and our breathing more laboured because of excessive weight.
Notwithstanding those whose weight gain may be the result of hormonal imbalances or other medical issues, the majority of us gain weight as a result of poor diet and insufficient exercise.
Recently, Dr. Ariane Mangar, Director of Rehabilitation and Disability Services, urged Guyanese to pursue healthier lifestyles after observing an increase in persons suffering from diabetes and experiencing strokes.
She referred to the “obesity epidemic” and increased stress as among the factors causing persons between 15 and 49 years to succumb to strokes and the early onset of hypertension.
Most telling of all was her criticism that people do not check themselves. They show little regard for the state of their health, particularly as it pertains to what they eat, the amount of exercise they get and the necessity for regular health checks. The Mayo Clinic in the US emphasises that obesity is not a “cosmetic concern” but a medical condition that increases the risk of many other diseases and health conditions”.
High on this list are cardiovascular illnesses, hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. The spread of fast-food franchises in Guyana, as in other parts of the world, only serves to exacerbate the problem. The meals offered are high in carbohydrates, saturated fats, salt and sugar.
Further, obesity tends to run in families, not just because of shared genes but because family members tend to also share similar eating habits getting little or no exercise.
As Dr. Mangar pointed out, sedentary lifestyles, where we exercise less, also contribute to the NCDs. Many more of us now sit in front of computers or on cell phones and drive more than we walk.
We in Guyana are also guilty of ‘shying away’ from salads and raw vegetables and when we do opt for a combination of meat and vegetables, we tend to overcook the veggies, destroying their nutritive value. It is a matter of global concern that we all return to healthier lifestyles, where we consume a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit, properly cooked vegetables and regular exercise.
Sporadic or infrequent exercise has no particular health benefit. In order to be effective, exercise must be regular and sustained. It then promotes significant physical and mental wellness, reducing the risk of stress and disease. For those already ‘tipping the scales’ too high, a moderate diet – reducing carbohydrate, fat, salt and sugar intake – is considered easier to accomplish and to sustain.
Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman and politician, said, in one of his most famous quotes on wellness, “Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have”.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
