With at least 60 per cent of the population obese, it may come as no surprise that T&T was ranked this weekend as the third fattest country in the world by the UK's Daily Mail.Reacting to the news, Health Minister Fuad Khan admits that the country has a major problem with obesity. He said it is a very tough battle to fight.
"I know we are right at the top of the list of fattest countries," Khan said."In the past 15 years our obesity index has risen from around 20 per cent to 60 per cent of our population and 30 per cent of children under 15 are obese. That is a very big problem." Than said the high measure of obesity in the country related directly to the diet and fast food consumption of the population."The MSG is causing addictions to high calorie foods and people just keep going back," he said.
Khan warned that sugar was the biggest threat to health.
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"People will see low fat on a product and think it's good when in fact, low fat is equal to double the amount of sugar...The sugar turns into fat in the body anyway," he said.He said people should look at low calorie foods as options.Khan said his ministry is using measures like the Fight the Fat campaign to encourage healthier lifestyles but it costs a lot of money. Instead, money is being used in the healthcare system to battle diseases caused by unhealthy lifestyles.
"The money goes to people who need heart surgery, who are on dialysis or being treated for diabetes," he said."About ten per cent of the population is taking away 90 per cent of the health budget."Khan said he is now engaged in discussions with Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj and Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh about a programme aimed at healthier diets in schools.
"All of the problems start with our children, in our schools and we want to start using more vegetables and local foods," Khan said.He said people often complained that eating healthier is more expensive and this will be addressed in discussions with Maharaj.
