Sedentary lifestyle is taking over Guyana – FAO representative

…new Food Based Dietary Guidelines launched

The revised Food Based Dietary Guidelines were on Thursday launched at the National Exhibition site, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, with the aim of sensitising the public on how to lead healthier lifestyles.

At the event, it was noted that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) has contributed for over 80 per cent of deaths in the Region, followed by the increase in sedentary lifestyles.
In light of this occurrence, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) partnered with the Public Health Ministry to spread awareness on the issue.
Reuben Robertson at the launch stated “There are math incidences of non-communicable diseases; the cancers of all types, hypertension, diabetes, kidney failures and strokes affecting people of all ages including children”.
“The data has shown some disturbing facts. It has shown that the excellent strides that we made for over two decades in health and food and nutrition security in the Region are now being reversed,” he added.
Robertson related that the introduction of these guidelines would be an ideal asset in providing a standard policy that all can follow, so as to be on the path of a healthy lifestyle. The results of following the guidelines will achieve food and nutrition security, which will shrink the number of NDC cases and sedentary lifestyles.
“FAO sees food and nutrition security as being multidimensional [and] issues which are intricately linked to good health and therefore require multidimensional, multi-sectorial and multidisciplinary approaches.”
He noted that these alarming statistics are as a result of poor consumer choices and the lack of fresh foods in the daily diets of many Guyanese.
Additionally, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Karen Campbell related that the surveys that were conducted for the guidelines revealed that there is an increase in the number of obese and malnourished persons. This is due to the lifestyle changes which require a different input into our bodies.
“We have to change our eating habits to meet our new lifestyles. If you had to simply remember how to change the way you eat, I would say turn the traditional dinner plate upside down.”
Furthermore, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence explained that the most workable way of tackling this issue would be to ensure that consumers purchase locally grown and manufactured products that are available on the local markets.
“We have to ensure that we use what God has given to us and the good thing about it is that when these particular fruits and vegetables are in place, you can get them at very cheap prices.”
Meanwhile, the guidelines will seek to promote healthy living by advising everyone to reduce their carbs, sugar, alcohol and salt intake while increasing the use of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Visits have been planned by the Ministry, whereby representatives will be dispatched to all the regions of Guyana to educate individuals on the newly revised guidelines which will assist in the lowering of the disease rate.
The 2002 guidelines were revised at the end of 2017 and it was changed from seven guidelines to nine.