We face a huge health problem with obesity, and overweight Fijians.
And it’s because many of us are complacent.
It is so bad that 65 per cent of our population is either obese or overweight and according to Fiji College of General Practitioners (FCGP) president Dr Rajeshwar Maharaj, this has become a huge problem in the country.
People are living with an unhealthy diet, he said, which increases the risk of hypertension, diabetes and stroke which has caused a lot of suffering.
“Why are people choosing to suffer instead of living a healthy life?”
People, he said, were overeating, consuming calories more than they should, taking in a lot of carbohydrates, red meat, sugar and carbonated drinks.
What a gloomy picture!
At the beginning of last month, on May 5, we learnt that around 41 per cent of all employees in the workforce have cardiovascular risk, which was a major concern!
That was the word from the Health Ministry’s head of wellness, Dr Devina Nand.
Speaking at the 2024 Fiji OHS conference at Pacific Harbour, she said it was an area of concern.
This critical public health issue needed early intervention.
Dr Nand emphasised the gravity of the situation, suggesting almost half of the workforce was at risk.
She spoke about heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular complications.
She noted the issue of obesity at the time.
It brings us to the point where we must be relooking at lifestyles, and perhaps, for the powers that be in the workplace, to put in place wellness programs focused on more than just physical health, but also touching on mental wellbeing.
We agree that early intervention is critical in the fight against NCDs, and especially cardiovascular diseases.
The onus though is also on us as individuals.
We need to be watching our diets and considering physical activities.
Healthy eating, however, may not be cheap for many people.
But this is where the movers and shakers of our nation come in.
Exercising isn’t at the top of many lists, and many of us are now accustomed to easy meals that are loaded with carbs, salt and sugar.
The key here, as Dr Nand has highlighted continues to be early intervention.
But there is also a great need for a change in mindsets!
As Dr Maharaj said yesterday, people will need to take responsibility and control of their lives which is why the FCGP is putting more emphasis on promoting healthy living.
We have been warned, and we also look up to the powers that be to assist the process in terms of addressing any policy challenges, and re-evaluating what people can take home as opposed to what they should be taking home!
