The Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) has called on federal, state and local governments to declare ‘Obesity Day’ to address rising cases of obesity, and obese- related diseases and mortality in Nigeria.
Dr Kingsley Akinroye, the Executive Director of NHF, made this call at a news conference organised by the foundation in commemoration of the World Obesity Day 2022 on Thursday in Lagos.
Akinroye, who noted that the foundation was concern about the rapid increase in obesity and the risk factors, said NHF was poised about promoting awareness on ‘walkability” and healthy diets.
According to him, local government being the closest to the people must urgently create this awareness and sensitisation at the grassroots to save lives being lost to obesity.
“The federal government and the state government should come on board; the local government should come onboard and declare a day for World Obesity to sensitise people on the need to focus on what they eat.
“We must declare a day when no car will go through a local government: Everybody must walk. There must be no car on that day. We are looking for that day; and that is being done in Kenya and Nairobi every year.
“Local Governments are very powerful and we feel that local government will take this up: Declare a day for World Obesity in which they will walk and encourage people to take fruit. They can even subsidise this,” Akinroye said.
He said that government could save a lot of fund being spent on provision of healthcare if obesity was adequately addressed.
According to him, so many unhealthy lifestyles of Nigerians affect the structure and blood vessels in the body, saying the biggest blood vessel remains the heart.
Akinroye added: “You are what you eat. If you decide to eat food nutrients that are very high in salt and fat, you will pay for it. We have to be careful in what we eat and we should pay particular attention to it.
“The blood vessel will pay for it and the number one indices is that the blood pressure will go up. Such an individual is a candidate to having health attack, stroke, damaged kidney, kidney failure and other risks.
The executive director said that there was the need to also influence the nation’s educational systems in the fight against obesity.
“The more physical activities we do, the more healthy we are likely to be, and the less sitting down we do, the more we longer we live and have a better life.”
In her remarks, Mrs Dolapo Coker, the Chairman, NHF Planning Committee on World Obesity Day 2022 Commemoration, said that obesity was being influenced by several factors such as genetic, metabolic, cultural, environment and socio-economic.
Coker, who is the former President, Nigerians Institute of Food Science and Technology, said that obesity subjected individuals to a higher risk for serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart diseases and falls.
“Obesity can cause long-time devastating illness. In Nigeria, available evidence shows that obesity is gradually increasing, especially among children and youth.
“Urban resident Nigerian children and youth are noted to be more overweight and/or obese that their rural counterparts.
“Nutritional transition characterised by a shift from traditional diets to more high economy diets (high salt, low fibre, high trans-fat, high glucose); and less engagement in active transportation and physical activities at home and in school have been associated with childhood obesity and over weight among urban resident children and youths in Nigeria.
“Obesity is a major risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and stroke, cancer and road traffic accidents,” Coker said.
According to her, prevention of obesity involves individuals and policymakers and this includes restricting the marketing to children of food and drinks high in sugar, salt and fats as well as improving physical activities in schools and environments.
Coker called for restrictions on sugar-sweetened beverages and high fatty meals, and provision for improved access to affordable home-prepared foods.
“In our cities, we need to create space for safe walking, cycling and recreation facilities. Obesity is no more show of wealth, rather it is a show of Ill health.
“Government, non-governmental organisation, companies, health and education authorities, sports commission and organisations should develop policies to improve walkabilities for adults and children in the environment including housing-estates towards reduction and elimination of obesity.
“Individuals are encouraged to eat five or six servings of fruits and vegetables daily; reduce processed foods from diet and eat whole grained products. Walking about 30 minutes a day is encouraged,” Coker added.
She, however, called on everyone to join hands in the fight against stigmatisation faced by obese people.
Also speaking, Prof Olugbenga Ogunmoyewa, the Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Advocacy for Food Safety and Nutrition Initiative (CAFSANI) called for regulation of food intake, said Nigerians must change some eating lifestyle and walk more.
The theme for the 2022 commemoration is “Everybody Needs to Act”.