Junk food a major issue @ BFEC- Sasha D.A. Flax
Statistics have shown that the Virgin Islands has the highest obesity rate per capita among Caribbean youth. While this is a known fact, the Ministry of Health and Social Development continues its advocacy to curb this but many feel that more needs to be done, mainly on the part of parents.
The startling reality of some of the core factors lending to childhood obesity and chronic health issues among the youth population hit home to the Sister Islands Coordinator during a visit to the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (BFEC) last Friday September 13, 2019, which prompted her to make a public appeal on social media.
She said most of the morning was spent at BFEC Primary and Secondary on Virgin Gorda. "I had a great time speaking with the teachers and the students about their school year so far."
However, she added, "I observed many things that I took note of but one thing was a bit disturbing. At the high school break time, almost every student I passed had a slice of pizza or chicken wings in their hands or a sugary soda like a Busta. I didn’t see one student with an apple or a bottle of water."
Ms Flax couldn't resist stopping one of the students to ask why he was eating that sort of food at that particular time of the day. She said she was startled at the response, "He said he didn’t have any breakfast."
Pay attention to children’s eating habits
The Sister Islands Coordinator said out of concern, "Now, I’m not a parent but I’m a concerned member of society. The Virgin Islands that we love and cherish has many social ills that we continue to turn a blind eye on. Childhood Obesity, Diabetes and Hypertension are rampant in our territory and if we don’t make some changes and make them fast things will get worst."
"I know we are all busy, but parents just as you take time to check on your children’s home work, you should be taking time to look into their eating habits. I’m not sure how often they do Physical Education in schools now but you should also get them involved in activities like dance, karate, and sports. Let’s try our best this week to help our children start healthy habits."
It has been said that the school can help change eating habits as well by having a water fill station, not allowing single use bottles and not allowing sugary snacks in the school. There are schools in the VI that already have these rules, according to one person who commented.
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22 Responses to “Junk food a major issue @ BFEC- Sasha D.A. Flax”
People tend to miscalculate their consumption.
There is a simply scientific rule that goes for everyone regardless of genes. If you eat more calories than you burn you will gain weight. If you eat less calories than you burn you will lose weight. So if you are too fat, you eat too much and/or exercise too little.
It's probably not what anyone likes to hear, but it's the truth.
@Yes - Sasha is not overweight! Just a bit of weight but long before she was the island Coordinator she’s been running a program called (Live Fit) she’s actually been an inspiration to myself and others. She actually workout. She’s not talking healthy she’s actually on the healthy challenge. But let’s remain focus -this is about our children and their health. Not because your a stripper or was meaning your child should be one (in other terms) Not because you eat all kinda sh** meaning your children should do the same
My parents never asked me what I wanted for breakfast... they prepared a nutritious meal and called me to eat. It was mandatory and not a discussion. Maybe too much choice is the problem with the way kids are raised today.
We should all ban the small single use plastic water bottles.
I don’t blame the kids for bringing the bottles to school. Their parents should know better than to buy so much plastic.
And it does indeed take a bit of planning from the schools to make sure they have enough water.
03 SEPTEMBER 2019
ACP (American College of Physicians)
Annals of Internal Medicine. Read full text if possible, or just google unofficial reports of the case.
Rhys Harrison; Vicki Warburton, PhD; Andrew Lux, PhD; Denize Atan, PhD
Article, Author, and Disclosure Information
Background: Popular media have highlighted the risks for poor cardiovascular health, obesity, and cancer associated with junk food, but poor nutrition can also permanently damage the nervous system, particularly vision.
Objective: To alert clinicians of the visual complications of a diet restricted to junk food.
Case Report: A 14-year-old boy presented to his family practitioner with tiredness. He was a “fussy eater” but was otherwise well and took no medications. Tests detected macrocytic anemia and low vitamin B12 level but no antibodies to intrinsic factor or tissue transglutaminase. He was treated with vitamin B12 injections and dietary advice....