Lifestyles leading to increase in dietary problems

BAD EATING habits and modern-day lifestyle have led to an increase in nutrition-related diseases such as obesity, Health Minister Christos Patsalides said yesterday.

Patsalides pointed out that the Health Ministry “recognises the importance of proper diet and exercise… The aim of the Ministry is to raise awareness, to enrich their knowledge, but also to implement the simple rules of nutrition to avoid diseases… proper nutrition is one of the key factors that contribute to maintaining health and preventing disease.

“Modern day lifestyle and bad eating habits because of opulence and consumerism have led to the increase in diseases related to diet,” the minister noted.

Patsalides said that “in Cyprus, various surveys show that approximately 24.1 per cent of men and 18.4 per cent of women are obese, while 44.2 per cent of men and 28.8 per cent of women are overweight”.

Moreover, citing the results of the ‘Child Health’ research group, the Minister said that “7.7 per cent of children are obese, compared with 6.2 per cent five years ago, and 29.9 per cent are overweight compared to 19.9 per cent.

“The high rates of obesity, and the occurrence of diet-related diseases have prompted the Health Ministry to develop an integrated strategy on issues related to nutrition… Within the framework of our strategy, in July 2007 we issued the National Food Based Dietary Guidelines and Exercise, which were distributed to almost all the households in Cyprus,” Patsalides added.

“Following these National Guidelines and because we believe that children are of great value to the nation, the committee on the drafting of the National Nutrition directives have focused their attention on the most vulnerable members of our population – the children.

“The guidelines aimed at the children were written in a way that is enjoyable and understandable. Our goal is that this pamphlet with the guidelines reaches the hands of every child.”

Patsalides said that the Health Ministry in co-operation with the Education Ministry would soon launch nutrition and exercise drawing and story-writing competition.

Information on the competition will be given in schools and are on the Health Ministry’s website.

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