Obesity is a disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems.It often results from consuming more calories (empty) than are burned by exercise and normal daily activities.
Obesity has been on the rise globally and leading preventable cause of death in adults and now becoming more prevalent in children. It is a major risk factor of chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Once considered a problem only in high income countries, Obesity is now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries and Zambia has not been spared. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2016 an estimated 1.9 billion adults over 18 years were over weight of these 650 million were obese world-wide.
Zambia over the past two decades has seen a rise in overweight and obese population both urban and rural. This has mostly been attributed to the fatty western diet in place of “traditional” whole meal diets and sedentary life styles. As globalisation is becoming reality it is easier for African countries now to access the world market especially were motor vehicle purchasing is concerned. The traffic jam especially during peak hours in Lusaka can just give you an idea on how this has been effective. Most people now walk less and drive more. Introduction of fast food restaurants serving fatty and junk food has been on the rise. Cooking habits have also evolved people using more oil/fat instead of just steaming, boiling or roasting. The use of processed foods in place of whole meal including roller meal and vegetables.
A person is considered obese when the body mass index (BMI) is over 30kg/m2. Body mass index is measured by obtaining and dividing a person’s weight by the square of the person’s height and has to be below 25kg/m2. The BMI between 25-30kg/m2 is considered overweight and above 30kg/m2 considered obese. Obesity can also be measured according to waist circumference and the National heart, lung and blood institute (NHLBI) classifies the risk of obesity related diseases as high if men have a waist circumference greater than 102 cm (40 in) and women waist circumference greater than 88 cm (35 in).
There is concerted effort from all citizens needed to see healthier choices made especially attaining 55 years of independence to make our country more viable. A free health check was put up at Mandahill shopping complex that served the public with free check of blood pressure, blood glucose, BMI and weight. The check was conducted by Ex-Chilonga school of nursing students who are giving back the little they can to the community by a means of sensitisation and self-health awareness. This is an ongoing project and next month will be done at a venue to be announced.
By Debbie Kalinda
Thats why i go for jogging every morning when i do not wake up with an HO. I know it is a lot of resources that go into my jogging because of the security detail and other logistics, but healthy is priority number one for me.
She is beautiful, then she carries a silly blanket on her shoulder as shield from PF thugs. Patriotic.
Bad eating and drinking habits is rife in Zambia for those who can afford….
Learn from the elephant: he lives 100 years without worrying about his weight for a minute.
That said: it all comes down to moderation. A healthy body will sustain consumption of unhealthy foods in normal quantities.
At 38 with BMI of 22.7 kilograms per square meter, i feel alive!! But then again, in life we’re never really safe despite knowing or adhering to all safety and healthy talk. It often feels like a slap in the face when Ecclesiastes 1:14 comes to mind.
She must not conduct the sensitisation programme in the shopping Malls. She must go to Parliament and stand at the entrance. Sensitise Kambwili do a health check on GBM in Kasama and Zambia will be obesity free.
I have HSV-1 and I was referred Dr Ahmed through a health blogger site with lot of testimony of him curing diseases and I bought his Herbal medicine and drank it for 21 days with his prescription and I was cured with my HSV result negative with no trace of the virus on my blood, It’s not a scam, the doctor is real. I was first discourage to contact him but I followed my heart and I never regretted it. His email drahmedusman5104 @ gmail. com He as cure or Diabetes, Cancer, Fibroid, HIV and Infections