Page 33 - Kyalami_Issue2_2022

Kyalami Estates Corporate Brand Bible Design 26
3.0 Folder (Inner)
HEALTH & WELLNESS
besity is defined by the 68% of women and 31% of men in
World Health Organisation South Africa are overweight or obese.
as ‘abnormal or excessive
Ofat accumulation that A major concern is the high prevalence
presents a risk to health’. It is most of severe obesity among South African
commonly measured by one’s body women. One in five women has a
mass index (BMI) and is caused by BMI ≥ 35.0 which places her in the
a variety of factors, including mental severely obese category. In addition,
health, genetic predisposition, 46% of women and 44% of men (aged
environment, and diet, including 15 years and older) are hypertensive
access to ultra-processed foods. As based on their systolic blood pressure
such, the condition is not due to lack being above 140mmHg, their
of willpower, however healthy lifestyle diastolic blood pressure being above
choices are fundamental in keeping 90mmHg, or because they are
obesity at bay. taking antihypertensive medication.
Haemoglobin levels, adjusted for
“We need to start improving our altitude and smoking status, indicate
lifestyles and influence our children that the prevalence of anaemia among
to be more active. Eating healthier adults (aged 15 and older) is 31% for
during the winter months is a perfect women and 17% for men.
way to start,” says personal trainer and
fitness guru Ezethu ‘Ezzy’ Salaze. The numbers highlighted here have
since increased and Ezzy has now
According to Ezzy, over the past few turned her focus on drawing attention
years, she has noticed a ‘severe’ to health issues related to obesity. “I
increase in obesity – especially among feel that I need to not only emphasise
younger people. “Obesity is nothing the dangers of obesity, but help
to play with. It affects your life, your those who are currently obese and
health, your confidence and your are trying to live their best lives,” she
longevity. Simple tasks like walking says. She also mentions that, based Ezzy says that people need to have a
up or down a flight of stairs become on more than a decade’s worth of mindset of ‘achieving the impossible’
a challenge. Now, I do realise that fitness experience, she knows that it and to challenge themselves to be
some individuals are predisposed to is in these colder months that people better. “My first advice is to be more
being ‘bigger’ in terms of their weight need to maximise their training time, active. You can start by waking up
but even so, there is no excuse for improve their diets and, most earlier. Challenge yourself, despite the
neglecting one’s health,” she says. importantly, take more control of their weather and other excuses. Monitor
overall well-being. your carbohydrate intake, drink more
In a survey conducted by Statistics water and increase your heart rate by
South Africa, the prevalence of Naturally, when it’s cold, people in doing simple exercises for just an hour
hypertension, overweight, and obesity general tend to eat more, and feel a day for at least four to five days a
appears to have increased since 1998. more tired. They also tend to be less week,” she adds.
The survey revealed that the body active which, in these COVID-19
mass index (BMI) score indicated that pandemic times, has increased. 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

Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 2 • 2022 31