By Edwin Naidu
Eat your veggies! That was the message from Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Reginah Mhaule, during World Obesity Day earlier this month.
While the government says it has made strides in ensuring that children get balanced meals through the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), it is important that parents and caregivers do the same at home. It is also advocating for schools to come on board and start their own vegetable gardens.
South Africa, like many parts of the world, is facing a growing obesity crisis. Governments, health professionals, advocates and the public need to urgently transform our systems and build a healthier future for people.
The National Food and Nutrition Security Survey by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), which is the first in-depth nationwide study into food and nutrition since 1994, found that almost half of South Africa’s adult population was overweight or obese.
Some of the significant findings are:
- 69% of obese adults lived in food-insecure households where families had few dietary choices and were forced to eat food with little nutritional value.
- More than two-thirds (67.9%) of females were either overweight or obese. There were higher incidences of obesity among women than men.
- Adults aged 35 to 64 had a significantly greater prevalence of obesity than younger age groups. This could be explained by differences in metabolism and the fact that youngsters are more active than adults.
- KwaZulu-Natal reported a higher prevalence of obesity (39.4%) compared to the other provinces. More research is needed to explore this finding and whether cultural factors are behind this.
The HSRC made the following recommendations to help address malnutrition in South Africa:
- Focus on areas with high levels of malnutrition
- Encourage families to produce their food to supplement social grants
- Invest in food banks at fruit and vegetable markets strategically located close to vulnerable households
- Help impoverished households survive seasonal hunger
- Launch campaigns to educate the public on the benefits of consuming nutrient-rich foods and dietary diversity
As recommended by local and international health professionals, healthy eating at school and at home can prevent obesity in children.
“For the past three decades, the government has been serving healthy meals to school-going children in various communities through the NSNP. This flagship programme remains one of the most impactful nutrition interventions, which is currently feeding more than nine million learners nationally,” Mhaule told parents and caregivers at Northbury Park Secondary School in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The programme promotes the rights of children to basic education and the right to basic nutrition, as enshrined in the Constitution. Access to sufficient healthy food and clean water is a basic human right.”
Mhaule has called on schools to initiate vegetable gardens and be green to win the battle against obesity among learners.
She said the culture of growing food has the potential to improve household food security, conquer malnutrition and hunger and promote healthier lifestyles through physical activities.
The deputy minister has also urged schools, tuck shop operators, vendors and local authorities to work together as community involvement was essential to ensure food safety and healthy options.
Tuck shops needed to lead by example following the government launching the reviewed Guidelines for Tuck Shop Operators, she said.
“Don’t sell food cooked in reused cooking oil or items with excessive sugar, salt or colourants. Tuck shops must be cleaned daily to prevent contamination. Prepare food daily and avoid leftovers,” Mahule said.
“All tuck shop operators must always ensure compliance by displaying their Certificate of Acceptability. Safe food means healthy learners. Let’s all work together towards changing the systems so that our children can lead healthier lives and a healthier future.”
The involvement of health systems, government systems, food systems, the media and environmentalists in healthy eating advocacy will assist local and international communities in suppressing the increasing rate of obesity among global citizens, especially school-going children.
INSIDE EDUCATION
