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22 January 2007
Open your window on a sunny afternoon, and what do you hear? The chirping of singing birds? The yelling of playing children? More than likely you'll hear the birds but not the children. As kids spend more time in front of television, computer and video screens, their physical activity levels have decreased. And their body weights have increased...
The strain that lack of exercise puts on the heart is enormous and if this trend continues, it is projected that the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease per year will reach 20 million by 2020 and 24 million by 2030.
Obesity in kids is now epidemic in the United States. The number of children who are overweight has doubled in the last two to three decades; currently one child in five is overweight. The sad reality is that overweight kids tend to become overweight adults, which continues to put them at greater risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
In South Africa it is estimated that one in five children is either overweight or obese with 17% of adolescents, between 13 - 19 are overweight with the rate in adolescent girls at 25%. According to Shân Biesman-Simons, Director of Nutrition and Education at the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa. As South Africa assimilates western culture, more people adopt an unhealthy western diet of high fat foods, and a lifestyle with little or no exercise and very little fibre, fresh fruit and vegetables.
"The escalation of this problem over the last few years goes hand in hand with increased TV watching, computer games and internet use, coupled with fast and convenience foods," explains Professor Nelia Steyn of the Medical Research Council of South Africa. "Add to this kids being given money to buy their own food, often high fat, high sugar foods and there's a big problem," she adds.
Because obesity is recognised as a lifestyle disease, the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa has focussed on educating children about a heart healthy lifestyle. The Children's Programme aims to establish good habits before children reach their teens.
"By educating schoolchildren you're educating the parents of tomorrow and by involving parent teacher associations, schools will become healthier environments," states Professor Steyn. "If nothing changes there will be increases in obesity in children and adults, increased hypertension, diabetes and other chronic diseases in adults. Health services will spend more and more money in treating chronic diseases, rather than investing money into prevention."
"Education has to start with the very young which is why we have introduced Hearty the mascot - a lovable character who eats right and exercises. We get our message across with songs, colouring-in books and simple messages relating to nutrition, exercise and even why smoking isn't good for you," explains Biesman-Simons.
The Challenge Complacency Campaign is aimed at the whole family and if the problem can be prevented early, heart disease could be brought under control.
We have cardiologists and experts in this field ready to be interviewed and give any information needed to get this message across to your readers, as well as ordinary South Africans who have suffered from heart disease and are happy to share their stories.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle Kearney,
Project Director: Communications & Public Relations,
The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
+27-21-447 4222 -
email: michelle@heartfoundation.co.za
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