Inactive life style leading to rise in unhealthy Fijians
January 21st, 2012 - 5:45 pm ICT by IANSSuva, Jan 21 (IANS) As many as three in four individuals in Fiji are physically inactive, a situation which is causing rise in health risks for them, the government has said.
According to Fiji’s National Advisor on Non-Communicable Disease, Isimeli Tukana, the lifestyle in this Fijian generation has changed a lot, especially for the younger population that have been influenced by technology, Xinhua reported.
Many children nowadays are obese and that is of growing concern, said Tukana, adding that is why the Ministry of Health is working with the Ministry of Education in promoting more physical education in schools and making it compulsory from the current school term.
According to the Ministry of Health, Fiji was recently ranked the fourth-most obese nation in the region.
Recent studies in Fiji showed a high incidence of anaemia in children, women and men.
Over 60 percent of the island nation’s population was overweight while a significant number were affected by deficiency in iron and micro-nutrients, said the statistics released by the ministry.
The figures show that a high rate of premature disability with Non Communicable Diseases (NCD), infection and cancer has taken its toll on the population.
Earlier this week, the country’s Women’s Minister Jiko Luveni advised mothers to stock up on healthy foods for their families, saying having green leafy vegetables was vital and buying fruits for children’s snacks instead of salted prepacked ones was the way to keep the family healthy.
- Over 50 percent deaths from non-communicable diseases: Azad - Sep 08, 2011
- WHO expands steps to fight non-communicable diseases - Apr 25, 2012
- No more junk food at Fiji schools - Oct 31, 2011
- Sri Lanka to have blood pressure meters in public places - Apr 25, 2012
- WHO for enhanced partnership to curb non-communicable diseases - Apr 24, 2012
- Obesity on rise in school children: Study - Nov 12, 2011
- South Asia facing health crisis: World Bank (Lead) - Feb 09, 2011
- Sedentary lifestyles affecting health of India's elderly (April 7 is World Health Day) - Apr 06, 2012
- Healthy ageing a global challenge: WHO - Apr 03, 2012
- Government mulls curbs on junk food in schools - Jul 18, 2011
- Prevention of non-communicable diseases priority: Azad - Mar 16, 2011
- WHO raises alarm over nutrition - Aug 09, 2011
- Non-communicable diseases leading cause of deaths: UN - Apr 28, 2011
- India to screen entire population for cancer, heart ailment - Dec 13, 2011
- Focusing on rural areas for non-communicable diseases: Azad - Aug 23, 2011
Tags: anaemia in children, communicable disease, current school, fijians, green leafy vegetables, growing concern, health risks, healthy foods, island nation, jan 21, jiko, life style, micro nutrients, ministry of education, ministry of health, non communicable diseases, obese nation, physical education in schools, women and men, xinhua