'Dying' to be first place: obesity in the Caribbean

Obesity in the Caribbean has taken all new heights. According to a recent report by the World Bank, obesity along with other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease and cancer are threatening the increase in life expectancy in the Caribbean. Even though people are living longer than ever before, they are doing so with chronic diseases.

Research shows that there is a gender disparity of obesity in the Caribbean, where women are disproportionately more obese than men.

According to the World Bank, in the OECS (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States), Dominica is said to have the highest obesity prevalence in both men and women compared to other countries in the OECS. Data from the World Bank also indicates that unfortunately about 60% of women in St. Lucia will be obese by 2015.

According to the World Bank, the increase in the prevalence of obesity and other NCDs in the Caribbean is caused by globalization and urbanization, which has contributed to an increase in fast food consumption and less consumption of traditional, home-grown foods: fruits & vegetables. Therefore, to reverse the rates of obesity we need to consume more of our traditional home-grown foods and rely less on fast foods for nutrition. However, this is easier said than done. One of the most difficult things to do is to change someone's health behavior. The World Bank suggests establishing public policies that will improve the quality of life in the Caribbean.

What do you think should be done to decrease obesity rates in the Caribbean?

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People of the Caribbean: Living longer BUT with chronic diseases

www.virginislandsnewsonline.com

Jamaicans and other citizens of the Eastern Caribbean are living longer than ever before, which is always good news. All six Organization of Eastern Caribbean State (OECS) countries experienced an increase in life expectancy at birth between 1990 and 2011, with a high of 76 in Dominica and St. Lucia.
However, this increase in life expectancy presents an unhealthy problem, because quality of life in the Eastern Caribbean is rapidly decreasing. New research from the World Bank informs that Jamaicans and other counties of the OECS are facing a health crisis with the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These diseases include heart disease, obesity and diabetes. NCDs are disproportionately affecting poor families; thereby, increasing rates of poverty when a large part of their income has to go to health care.

In fact, the annual cost for treating an individual with diabetes ranges from US$322 to US$769 in the OECS. This amount is more than double in the currency of these countries, which presents another burden. In fact, data from ST. Lucia show that individuals living with a non-communicable disease spend 36% of their total household expenditure annually for health care. Poorer households spend 48% of their per capita expenditure, while wealthier households spend less than 20% on health care. The problem that is presented here is a widening gap between the rich and poor.

Worldwide there is an increase in non-communicable diseases, but the region with the largest increase are in low and middle income countries, which is representative of many countries of the Caribbean.


Chronic diseases in the Caribbean from World Bank on Vimeo.

These are the facts: Now what? How can we as a people, ensure that non-communicable diseases are NOT threatening this increase in life expectancy?  

 For more information on NCDs in the Caribbean visit http://www.healthycaribbean.org/

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World AIDS DAY (Video)

December 1st is WORLD AIDS DAY



Source: UNAIDS.org

If you are overweight, obese, a smoker, then you pay more in Health insurance premiums

An article, released today by the New York Times, shows that workers considered to be overweight, obese, a smoker then you pay more in Health insurance premiums. There is an increased demand by employers for their employees to pay more for in health insurance premiums if they are smokers or are obese. The same goes for those who have high cholesterol. Other employers are offering financial incentives to their employees by encouraging them to enroll in wellness programs. Companies including, Home Depot, PepsiCo, Safeway, Lowe's, and General Mills defend their decision on high premiums for “less healthy” employees by stating that this approach will get workers to take more responsibility for their health & well-being.

Currently, Wal-Mart stores (the nation's largest employer) sought higher payments for their smokers- an amount, reaching $2,000 more than for non-smokers. The only way that their employees can avoid this surcharge if this receive documentation from their doctors stating that it would be medically inadvisable or impossible to quit smoking.

www.nytimes.com:erome Allen, who works for Wal-Mart, gave up smoking when he learned he paid $40 more a month for health insurance, in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday.

What do I think about this?

As much as I am a huge supporter for wellness programs, I am NOT a supporter for discriminating,because this is exactly what companies are doing when they seek to have 'unhealthy' workers pay more in health insurance premiums. Companies who choose to go on the route of higher premiums for the 'unhealthy' and discounts for 'healthy' are making the assumption that health status is a lifestyle choice and that all health status is as a result of personal behavior. Is that true?

I think not! I do agree that personal behavior is included in the equation on health status, but there is so much more to our health status as a people. Research has shown that the conditions in which we live, work, and play tend to induce unhealthy behaviors such as:

• being exposed to high levels of stress each day, which can cause reliance on unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol as a means to reduce stress

• easy and quick access to fast food and limited access to fresh foods

• limited to no recreational facilities in neighborhoods/communities

• higher prices for healthy food, especially fruits and vegetables, particularly when compared to fast food and junk food.

Our health status is not a result of merely personal behaviors. Our employment conditions, the neighborhoods in which we live, our race, stress, and our health care are all part of the equation. So, discriminating against those considered 'unhealthy' by punishing them to pay more money for health insurance is simply unfair. The only good thing that may result out of this whole thing is providing an incentive to those whose actions are only a result of personal behavior and encouraging those already considered healthy to keep engaging in health promoting ways.

What do you think? Is it fair or unfair to change higher health insurance premiums for those considered unhealthy?

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New in Health: The African Heritage Diet Pyramid (What?!)

Hello Lovely people,

www.oldways.com

Oldways has created the African Heritage Diet Pyramid with the help of experts in the African Diaspora. According to Oldways, the African Heritage Diet Pyramid "was designed specifically for African Americans, and African descendant populations everywhere, to introduce them to their Healthy Heritage. It can also be used by anyone wanting to use heritage as a guide to eating well."

The Pyramid is designed to celebrate the individual foods and the traditional healthy eating patterns of African Heritage, with roots in America, Africa, the Caribbean, or South America. 
From what I've seen, as a St. Lucian, I recognize a lot of food that we, St.Lucians and other people of the Caribbean eat, such as callalo, guava, yams, breadfruit, plantains, cassava etc. 

An excerpt from Oldways: he foods of African Heritage contain lots to be celebrated, and they begin with the main ingredient of African American cooking today—flavor!  Heaps of herbs, spices, and savory sauces jazz up simple, healthful vegetable-focused meals, showing us that “healthy eating” also means great taste. Traditional African Heritage meals are based on an abundance of colorful fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens; tubers like sweet potatoes; beans of all kinds; nuts and peanuts; rice, flatbreads and other grain foods, especially whole grains; healthy oils; homemade sauces and marinades of herbs and spices; fish, eggs, poultry and yogurt; and minimal consumption of meat and sweets.

To me, this pyramid is proof that we need to take a step back away from the 'western' diet which is killing a lot of us in 'developing' countries; developing countries which are a large part in the Caribbean, South America and Africa--The African Diaspora! Let's go back to our roots and celebrate what traditionally what our grandmother, great grandmother ate while growing up...because they weren't eating fast foods that are high in sodium and saturated fat. 

www.oldways.com

Please take the time to learn more about the African Heritage Diet here and let's celebrate our Black culture through food.

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The Unsettling Truth about Diabetes

Hello Lovely people,

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month!

www.stylemagazine.com

And let me tell you the number are NOT looking good. Diabetes is when the body has a very difficult time regulating its blood glucose or blood sugar. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2

Type 1 diabetes is is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In this case, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. This is the less common form of the disease.

On the other hand, type 2 diabetes is highly prevalent in our communities. If this is the case, the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells of the body ignore the insulin produced by the body. The statistics on diabetes in the U.S. is alarming to say the least:

Total prevalence of diabetes

Total: 25.8 million children and adults in the United States—8.3% of the population—have diabetes.

Diagnosed: 18.8 million people

Undiagnosed: 7.0 million people

Prediabetes: 79 million people*

* In contrast to the 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, which used fasting glucose data to estimate undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes, the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet uses both fasting glucose and A1C levels to derive estimates for undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes. These tests were chosen because they are most frequently used in clinical practice.
 

New Cases: 1.9 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older in 2010.

In an article released today by the International Diabetes Federation, at least 1 in 10 adults could have diabetes by 2030! Crazy. The information that was startling for me was that 'according to the World Health Organization, there are about 346 million people worldwide with diabetes, with more than 80 percent of deaths occurring in 'developing' countries.'

My Questions:

1. Why is diabetes growing rampant in 'developing' countries, countries who plagued more so by infectious diseases (communicable) diseases? Many (not all) of those 'developing' countries are geographically located in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa.
   
   
2. What shift is going on in those countries to cause more than 80 percent of deaths occurring in 'developing' countries?!! Is it simply behavior and lifestyle of the people who live there or is it bigger? Are there structural, social and economic inequalities causing such a divide not only between countries but within countries? What's going on?

Any thoughts or feedback?

www.diabetes.org

Sources:

http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/

http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111114/ap_on_he_me/eu_med_diabetes_numbers

http://www.healthycaribbean.org/

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Stay happy & healthy,

Jojoba Oil |Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Castor Oil | Coconut Oil incredible for the hair and skin

Hello lovely people,

Another edition of the Good Health Series: Taking care of the Physical. Nature provides us with an abundance of natural ingredients for health and beauty. And I say why not take advantage of all this natural goodness, rather than opting for unnatural, artificial and refined ingredients. This brings me to oils. Currently, more than ever, achieving and maintaining healthy skin, so I want to share some of what I've learned with you.

Jojoba Oil- I love this stuff! I use jojoba oil as my facial moisturizer. I have very sensitive /acne prone skin. Dyes and perfumes irritate my skin so badly that I avoid them completely. Jojoba oil work very well, because it light and odorless. All you need is about 4-5 drops for moisturized and soft skin. Jojoba oil will not clog your pores. In fact, jojoba is so similar to the body's natural sebum (oil).

In addition, I use jojoba oil to keep my hair soft, shiny, and conditioned. It works extremely well to reduce breakage.

Castor oil- I use castor to keep my hair conditioned right after a nice wash. As a child, I watched my mum make castor oil, which she would use on my hair. I do the same thing today. Castor oil keeps my hair moisturized and protected in cold weather. It is a thick oil, so a little goes a long way.

Most importantly, I use castor oil to keep my acne at bay. I take about 3 drops of castor oil, rub on my hair, let it absorb into the skin for a few minutes and enjoy the benefits. Castor oil has anti-bacterial + anti-inflammatory properties, which is great for acne prone skin.

Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)- This only is not just for cooking. This oil has truly become a true hair staple. I use EVOO solely for my hair as a hot oil treatment and oiling my scalp. EVOO is very beneficial for dry and brittle hair. It keeps the hair conditioned, removes buildup caused by products, nourishes and strengthens the hair.

Coconut oil-- One of the best oils in my opinion. Coconut oil nourishes and strengthens hair, because it is one of the few oils that is able to penetrate the hair shaft. Coconut oil has antimicrobial + antifungal + antibacterial properties, making it great in the treatment of dandruff and lice. This is also a great oil for the skin.

I hope this was helpful to you!

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