Page 17 - Dainfern Precinct_Issue 4_2022

HEALTH & WELLNESS

besity is defined by the score indicated that 68% of women
World Health Organisation and 31% of men in South Africa are
OBESITY Ofat accumulation that A major concern is the high
overweight or obese.
as ‘abnormal or excessive
presents a risk to health’. It is most
commonly measured by one’s body
prevalence of severe obesity among
AN ESCALATING HEALTH mass index (BMI) and is caused by South African women. One in five
a variety of factors, including mental
women has a BMI ≥ 35.0 which
health, genetic predisposition,
places her in the severely obese
category. In addition, 46% of women
environment, and diet, including
PROBLEM WORDWIDE access to ultra-processed foods. and 44% of men (aged 15 years
and older) are hypertensive based
As such, the condition is not due to
lack of willpower, however healthy
on their systolic blood pressure
lifestyle choices are fundamental in being above 140mmHg, their
keeping obesity at bay. diastolic blood pressure being above
90mmHg, or because they are
“We need to start improving our taking antihypertensive medication.
lifestyles and influence our children Haemoglobin levels, adjusted for
to be more active. Eating healthier altitude and smoking status, indicate
during the winter months is a perfect that the prevalence of anaemia
way to start,” says personal trainer among adults (aged 15 and older) is
and fitness guru Ezethu ‘Ezzy’ 31% for women and 17% for men.
Salaze.
The numbers highlighted here
According to Ezzy, over the past few have since increased and Ezzy has
years, she has noticed a ‘severe’ now turned her focus on drawing Image: Katherine Heath,Unsplash
increase in obesity – especially attention to health issues related
among younger people. “Obesity is to obesity. “I feel that I need to
nothing to play with. It affects your not only emphasise the dangers
life, your health, your confidence of obesity, but help those who are
and your longevity. Simple tasks currently obese and are trying to pandemic times, has increased. Ezzy
like walking up or down a flight of live their best lives,” she says. She says that people need to have a
stairs become a challenge. Now, also mentions that, based on more mindset of ‘achieving the impossible’
I do realise that some individuals than a decade’s worth of fitness and to challenge themselves to be
are predisposed to being ‘bigger’ in experience, she knows that it is in better. “My first advice is to be more
terms of their weight but even so, these colder months that people active. You can start by waking up
there is no excuse for neglecting need to maximise their training time, earlier. Challenge yourself, despite
one’s health,” she says. improve their diets and, most the weather and other excuses.
importantly, take more control of Monitor your carbohydrate intake,
In a survey conducted by Statistics their overall well-being. drink more water and increase your
South Africa, the prevalence of heart rate by doing simple exercises
hypertension, overweight, and Naturally, when it’s cold, people in for just an hour a day for at least four
obesity appears to have increased general tend to eat more, and feel to five days a week,” she adds.
since 1998. The survey revealed more tired. They also tend to be less
that the body mass index (BMI) active which, in these COVID-19 It’s important that you keep your
perspective and not become
discouraged, she says. “With
social media and the connected
lives that we live, we can easily
become overwhelmed when we see
celebrities and influencers sharing
photos of their perfect bodies. My
advice is to not be intimidated by all
the ‘noise’. Anyone can get the body
and energy levels of their dreams.
Just start today – it’s never too late!”
Ezzy is offering free advice to help
people to live and lead their best
lives. Follow her on social media and
email her to find out more.
Instagram: @ezzslaze and
Email: ezethu.salaze@gmail.com

REFERENCES
South Africa Demographic and Health
Survey 2016
https://www.worldobesity.org/about/
about-obesity/prevalence-of-obesity
Image: Anupam Mahapatra,Unsplash
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