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R/£ Our way of living is killing us gradually
December 11, 2008 Edition 1
Anso Thom
Many South Africans lead sedentary lifestyles, have poor
and unhealthy diets and are overweight or obese, leading to all kinds of preventable but fatal conditions.
The latest South African Health Review warns that South Africans, especially poor people in urban areas, are at high risk of chronic non-communicable diseases linked to preventable risk factors such as high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy
diet, smoking and drinking. These factors lead to various
chronic disease processes – heart attacks, tobacco- and
nutrition-induced cancers and obstructive lung diseases –
that culminate in high death rates.
A South African study conducted in 2000 identified heart
disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes as causing 65 000 deaths per year, suggesting that the prevention of these diseases should receive priority attention.
The authors of the review also expressed concern that
these high-risk patients were not being identified at primary healthcare level. “Routine screening for risk factors in all individuals in the health services is poor,” they wrote. In 2003, national data showed that only 18% of men and 22% of women had controlled
hypertension.
In 2000, the prevalence of diabetes among adults older
than 30 was estimated to be about 5,5%. A study to identify environmental risk factors for noncommunicable
diseases in urban townships showed that there was a shortage of healthy, low-fat food and fresh fruit and vegetables. Another study reported that although many black women were overweight or obese, few perceived themselves as such.
“The belief that thinness is associated with personal problems and sickness, especially HIV/Aids, seems to be a barrier to maintaining normal body weight in some individuals,” it said. Young people were found to have bad habits.
A national survey found that youngsters frequently consumed fast foods (38,8%), cakes and biscuits
(47,4%), cooldrinks and sweets (52%) at least four days a week. The review also found that the nutritional status of South Africans had deteriorated since 1994.
Severe vitamin A deficiency was recorded in about
15% of children – despite the legislated fortification of
bread, flour and maize meal and the national high-dose
vitamin A supplementation programme. High levels of zinc deficiency were also recorded.
The authors cited an example from Finland – which had
the highest death rate from cardiovascular disease due to heavy smoking, high-fat diet and low vegetable intake – where a community-based intervention reduced cancer
and heart disease mortality by at least 56%. The intervention led to policies banning tobacco advertising and the introduction of low-fat and vegetableoil products.– Health-e news
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