LIFESTYLE NEWS - South Africa's rising obesity epidemic prompted the Department of Health and its partners for National Nutrition Week 2013 to focus this year's campaign on raising awareness of the importance of portion control.

Inaugurated 15 years ago, the event is a vital public health intervention and is jointly planned by the Department of Health, the Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA), the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Consumer Education Project of Milk SA (CEP). National Nutrition Week 2013 will run from 9 to 15 October.

Statistics show that increasing numbers of South Africans are overweight or obese, with the problem at its worst among adult women and preschool children.

Over 40 per cent of adult women are classified as obese and obesity in adult women has increased in the last decade from 27,5 per cent to 40 per cent. In the age group two to five years, 18,9 per cent of girls and 17,5 per cent of boys are classified as overweight. Significantly, over the past decade, the prevalence of overweight preschool boys and girls has risen sharply from 10,6 per cent to 18,2 per cent - an issue which Lynn Moeng, chief-director of health promotion and nutrition at the Department of Health, says cannot be ignored.

"People are eating too much and they're eating the wrong foods," she said. "By educating them about portion size and choices, we aim to change attitudes and habits so that people 'downsize' and reduce their health risk."

'Eat less – choose your portion with caution!' will be the central message for National Nutrition Week 2013, with three important supplementary messages, namely:

• Choose a variety of foods from different food groups and eat recommended amounts
• Make portion control a daily way of life
• Use salt and foods high in salt sparingly

One research study found that people consumed at least 30 per cent more food due to large portion sizes, including pre-packaged snacks and beverages. "During National Nutrition Week 2013, communications will be aimed at providing the community with practical ways to help them eat less such as using smaller plates, bowls and utensils, repackaging snack foods into individual-sized portions, not eating in front of the television and encouraging children to take a lunchbox containing healthy snacks to school," said Moeng.

"Obesity is a growing crisis and South Africans need a wake-up call about portion control and the importance of regular physical activity before it's too late," said Moeng. "The mass communication activities of National Nutrition Week 2013 combined with practical tools such as the South African Guidelines for Healthy Eating and the Food Guide will send a strong public message and give people essential information in accessible and user-friendly formats to help them make long-lasting diet and lifestyle changes. The Government would like to mobilise all South Africans to continue making healthy lifestyle choices."

For further information visit www.nutritionweek.co.za.

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