Page 19 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 8_2023

Health & Wellness

besity is defined by the revealed that the body mass index (BMI)
World Health Organisation score indicated that 68% of women
as ‘abnormal or excessive and 31% of men in South Africa are
Ofat accumulation that overweight or obese.
presents a risk to health’. It is most
commonly measured by one’s body A major concern is the high prevalence
mass index (BMI) and is caused by a of severe obesity among South
variety of factors, including mental African women. One in five women
health, genetic predisposition, has a BMI ≥ 35.0 which places her
environment, and diet, including in the severely obese category. In
AN ESCALATING HEALTH access to ultra-processed foods. As addition, 46% of women and 44% of
such, the condition is not due to lack
men (aged 15 years and older) are
of willpower, however healthy lifestyle
hypertensive based on their systolic
PROBLEM WORLDWIDE choices are fundamental in keeping blood pressure being above 140mmHg,
their diastolic blood pressure being
obesity at bay.
“We need to start improving our above 90mmHg, or because they are
taking antihypertensive medication.
lifestyles and influence our children to Haemoglobin levels, adjusted for
be more active. Eating healthier during altitude and smoking status, indicate
the winter months is a perfect way to that the prevalence of anaemia among
start,” says personal trainer and fitness adults (aged 15 and older) is 31% for
guru Ezethu ‘Ezzy’ Salaze. women and 17% for men.

According to Ezzy, over the past few The numbers highlighted here have
years, she has noticed a ‘severe’ since increased and Ezzy has now
increase in obesity – especially among turned her focus on drawing attention
younger people. “Obesity is nothing to health issues related to obesity. “I
to play with. It affects your life, your feel that I need to not only emphasise
health, your confidence and your the dangers of obesity, but help
longevity. Simple tasks like walking those who are currently obese and general tend to eat more, and feel more
up or down a flight of stairs become are trying to live their best lives,” she tired. They also tend to be less active
a challenge. Now, I do realise that says. She also mentions that, based which, in these COVID-19 pandemic
some individuals are predisposed to on more than a decade’s worth of times, has increased. Ezzy says that
being ‘bigger’ in terms of their weight fitness experience, she knows that it people need to have a mindset of
but even so, there is no excuse for is in these colder months that people ‘achieving the impossible’ and to
neglecting one’s health,” she says. need to maximise their training time, challenge themselves to be better. “My
improve their diets and, most first advice is to be more active. You can
In a survey conducted by Statistics South importantly, take more control of their start by waking up earlier. Challenge
Africa, the prevalence of hypertension, overall well-being. yourself, despite the weather and other
overweight, and obesity appears to excuses. Monitor your carbohydrate
have increased since 1998. The survey Naturally, when it’s cold, people in
intake, drink more water and increase
your heart rate by doing simple
exercises for just an hour a day for at
least four to five days a week,” she
adds.
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!”

n Follow Ezzy her on social
media and email her to find out
more.
Instagram: @ezzslaze and
Email: ezethu.salaze@gmail.com

DPL issue 8 2023
18 DPL issue 8 2023 DPL issue 2 2023 719