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22 January 2007
It's that time of year again when New Year's resolutions are made and broken on the same day, the most common being to lose weight. With heart disease reaching epidemic proportions and global statistics proving that heart disease and strokes kill as many women as men, the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA has launched its Challenge Complacency Campaign to encourage people to think about their hearts. It is vital to know the the risks, and since an unhealthy diet is a risk factor for heart disease, it is important to eat sensibly.
Very few people are happy with the shape of their body but how many know that their shape could determine their future health?
Women generally fall into the 'pear' shape where fat is mostly found around the hips and buttocks but there are many who, in common with their male counterparts, share the 'apple' shape found in people with extra weight stored around their waist (called an android fat distribution) and it's these 'apple' shapes who have an increased risk of heart disease.
Although finding out your Body Mass Index (BMI) is the first step to indicating whether you are overweight (see diagram below), body fat distribution is more strongly linked with heart disease than a high BMI. An 'apple' shape waist circumference over 94cm in men and 80cm in women is considered an increased risk. Over 102cm in men and 88cm in women is seen as high risk.
Obesity is a worldwide disease of lifestyle and it's by making small changes in our lifestyle that heart disease can be controlled.
"There seems to be a lack of interest in ourselves," comments Shân Biesman-Simons, Director of Nutrition and Education at the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA. "This contributes to all the chronic diseases of lifestyle with bad eating and lack of exercise being major factors," she adds.
Here are a few simple guidelines from the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA:
- Have at least three meals per day - If you are constantly hungry, rather eat five to six smaller meals or healthy snacks between meals (eg fruit);
- Eat breakfast - people who skip breakfast are more prone to obesity; and
- Reduce fat intake, especially saturated fats, i.e. animal fats and so-called 'hidden' fats found in cookies, pastries and processed food
For those who think it's too late to change, Biesman-Simons urges, "It's never too late to incorporate a healthy lifestyle. Lead by example, go for walks with your children or cook a heart healthy meal together."
BMI = __weight in kg__
(height in metres)²
The 'healthy' range is 18.5 - 25. Overweight people score 25 - 30 and obese people, over 30. These cut-off points are not absolute and people with high muscle mass (such as body builders) may have a high BMI without being overweight
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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