Obesity in the Caribbean has been increasing at a frightening rate over the past thirty years, more than doubling in the last ten. Today in the region three in ten men and nearly five in ten women are considered overweight or obese. This surpasses even the Black American inner city experience in the US.

Equally alarming is the widespread apathy and lack of education surrounding this now epidemic disease throughout our Caribbean culture. Did you know, for example, that  the link between obesity and the leading killers of our Caribbean people, diabetes and hypertension, has been firmly established.

Medical researchers recently recognised the existence of the metabolic syndrome, an inflammatory state that occurs in obesity which directly and indirectly results in hypertension, diabetes, cholesterolemia, heart attacks, strokes, thrombosis, arthritis, sleep apnea, certain cancers and a host of other life threatening ailments.

Obese people are also at risk for premature death and have a markedly decreased quality of life as well as psycho-social issues. The bourgeoning of our Caribbean people has led to staggering financial costs on already inadequately funded public health systems. We simply cannot afford the fallout.

Although some obesity is genetic in origin, the overwhelming etiology is an energy imbalance. Simply put: too much high calorie food and too little exercise. And although the obvious treatment involves early education and lifestyle modification, these measures alone result in very little sustained weight loss in the already morbidly obese group (Body mass index above 35).

The Surgical Option
Fortunately, for these extreme cases, developments in both the laparoscopic and bariatric surgical fields in the last 15 years have resulted in safe and effective minimally invasive surgical procedures resulting in sustained significant weight loss. The most common bariatric surgical procedures performed today are the laparoscopic gastric bypass and the laparoscopic gastric band. Both are performed through tiny incisions using a laparoscope and camera to visualise the abdominal cavity, along with specialised instruments enabling the surgeon to operate from outside the body.

Both procedures are highly successful, with most people shedding between 50-80% of their excess body weight. More importantly, this weight loss often leads to a normalisation of blood pressure and blood sugar levels obviating the need for medication and ultimately improving quality of life.

If you are concerned about obesity and the resulting health issues, visit your doctor who will advise you of the best way for you to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle.

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Healthy Lifestyle
What is the recommended daily calorie intake for men and women?
This varies depending on how old you are, but for the average adult it should be approx 2000 per day for women and 2500 per day for men.

What kind of healthy eating habits should I be adopting?
Aim for three main meals a day. Most people need to eat more starchy foods and more fruit and vegetables, as well as reducing their fat intake, drinking less alcohol and eating less salt and sugar.

How much exercise should I do a day?
Adults should aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (which is anything that makes you slightly out of breath and warmer than usual) at least five days a week. This can be achieved with ten-minute bursts of activity spread throughout the day.