The fact that our growing obesity crisis is being driven by an increasing dependence on processed foods and unhealthy lifestyles is nothing new! It hasn’t suddenly popped out of the woodworks! We have known about this for years.
It is important that we note the warning from National Diabetes Centre principal medical officer Dr Momtaz Ahmed.
He points out that many Fijians now rely heavily on canned and processed food rather than natural, traditional diets, which is a worrying shift.
Food, after all, is supposed to appeal. It must taste good to keep people buying it.
So, it makes sense that over time, many have developed a preference for canned and processed options.
Add to that the issue of affordability. A can of fish, for instance, is often cheaper than fresh fish.
Combine it with noodles and you have a quick, inexpensive meal that can feed several people. It is convenient and budget-friendly.
But as Dr Ahmed highlights, this convenience comes at a cost.
Poor eating habits, coupled with reduced physical activity, are fuelling the rise in overweight people and obesity. Unhealthy diets alongside sedentary lifestyles are driving our growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The advice is simple. We have to eat healthier food and cut back on processed options.
Yet the challenge lies in making that a reality across all levels of society. Healthy choices are not always accessible. For many families, they remain out of reach. Modern lifestyles also play a role.
As Dr Ahmed notes, people are spending more time on screens and less time preparing nutritious meals or engaging in physical activity. The result is a growing dependence on fast, processed alternatives.
Equally troubling is the rise in childhood obesity. Dr Ahmed warns that more children are becoming overweight, both in Fiji and globally, as diets shift toward fast food and processed meals instead of natural options.
This trend signals long-term consequences if left unaddressed. He encourages families to include fruits in their daily meals and make use of locally available seasonal produce.
It is a practical step that reconnects households with healthier, traditional eating habits. This issue matters because it affects us all.
A healthy lifestyle is about more than just food. It involves staying active, managing stress, and making conscious choices every day.
It may even mean revisiting simple practices like backyard gardening for instance, which is an investment of time and effort that can yield lasting benefits.
Failing to act keeps us tied to the rising tide of NCDs, with serious implications for both public health and household finances. Real change, however, requires a broader response. Affordability and purchasing power must be addressed.
Policymakers have a critical role to play in ensuring that healthy food options are accessible and affordable, supported by effective strategies and policies.
Otherwise, we risk remaining trapped in a cycle defined by convenience, cost, and poor health outcomes. Not much is going to change!
