Remember: Focus on diet, exercise
JAMAICA will join the rest of the region to observe Caribbean Wellness Day on September 10.
The day will be used to highlight the importance of healthy diets and exercise among the population.
This year, the event will be staged in Half-Way Tree Square from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and will feature physical activities for the entire family, food sampling and nutrition education, health checks, interactive displays, a special cook-off, and an entertainment segment. A ‘Children’s Zone’ will be a special feature this year.
The day will be observed under the theme ‘Love your body; Treat your body right’, with the regional campaign guided by the Caribbean Public Health Agency in an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent the onset of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension in Caribbean territories.
At this year’s staging, special emphasis will be placed on nurturing healthy habits from childhood with the subtheme ‘Healthy Children in Healthy Environments’.
Nearly one-half of Jamaicans are classified as having low levels of physical activity, and three-quarters or more of Jamaicans between 15 and 74 years make poor dietary choices, consuming one or more bottles of sweetened beverage per day, with rural dwellers consuming more than urban dwellers.
These dietary patterns and lack of physical activity have influenced the increase in the obesity epidemic.
Activities for the day are aimed in promoting a healthy lifestyle.
