NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Seventy per cent of the Bahamian population, including a significant number of the nation’s youth, are either overweight or obese, Minister of Health Dr the Hon Hubert A Minnis told House Members Wednesday.

That works out to seven out of every 10 Bahamians who are either overweight or obese.

Dr Minnis said this does not bode well for future generations of Bahamians as a number of chronic, non-communicable diseases – including diabetes, hypertension, strokes and heart disease – are by-products of obesity.

The Health Minister said officials at the Ministry of Health and the Department of Public Health through its Healthy Lifestyle Secretariat and Food and Nutrition Unit, have “re-doubled” their efforts towards prevention by implementing a number of programmes designed to promote, adopt and sustain healthy lifestyles and healthy living among Bahamians.

These include education and awareness campaigns, healthy lifestyle seminars, health fairs, the use of public service announcements and the formation of Healthy Dozen Clubs.

Others include the 100-Day Challenge, the Passport to Healthy Living and the National Dietary Food Guide Drum.

Addressing the House of Assembly on Wednesday (May 5, 2010), Dr Minnis said statistics show that there are a number of Bahamian children at the sixth grade level who are suffering from hypertension as a result of being obese and/or overweight.

“If sixth graders today are suffering from hypertension, by the time they reach twelfth grade, or by the time they reach 19, 20 years of age, we will have a boon of individuals who are suffering from strokes. We will have a boon of individuals, 18, 19 years of age needing renal transplants and/or having heart attacks, etcetera,” Dr Minnis said.

“The problem that is causing this is obesity,” Dr Minnis said. “The Government of The Bahamas, recognizing that, is setting the foundation to protect that group to ensure that we manage obesity; to ensure that we manage hypertension, to ensure that we prevent these.”
Dr Minnis said the Government has taken steps to provide relief for those persons already suffering from CNCDs through the passage of the National Insurance (Chronic Diseases Prescription Fund) Act, 2009 which will improve access to prescription drugs and other supplies and thereby help to control the effects of CNCDs.

The Fund will not only finance the purchase of prescription drugs and certain medical supplies for beneficiaries under the Plan, but will also provide funding for approved prevention programmes, thereby promoting healthy lifestyles.

The registration process has already begun in New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.

Dr Minnis said healthcare professionals will continue to develop, promote and sustain programmes that stress the need for personal commitment to wellness in everyday life.

“We must encourage eating nutritious foods that are moderate in calories and fat, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse, getting regular check-ups and proper stress management,” Dr Minnis added.