The Department for Public Health is urging the Aruban community to lead a healthier lifestyle to avoid obesity and to have a better quality of life. Almost 80% of the population in Aruba is overweight. Most of these people do not even realize they are overweight.
The World Health Organization defines obesity as having an abnormal or excessive amount of fat accumulated which forms a risk to the person's health.
To determine obesity, usually, the Body Mass Index (BMI) and the waist are measured. A BMI of 30kg/m2 or more indicates obesity. Men with a waist measuring 102 cm (40 inches) or more and women with a waist measuring 88 cm (35 inches) or more are considered obese.
Do you know how to measure yourself?
Click on the following video link for instructions to measure your waist: https://www.facebook.com/desparuba/videos/1907364046264568/
Obesity is the result of many factors in and out of our control. Biological and genetic factors set some at higher risk. Physical and social environments also impact the person's ability to lead a healthy lifestyle or may expose the person to unhealthy foods and habits.
What can we do?
- Eat three times a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and 1 or 2 intermediate snacks
- eat two fruits daily for vitamins and fiber;
- drink at least 7-8 glasses of water;
- limit the use of fats to 1 spoon for cooking;
- avoid or limit sugars, salts, and alcohol use.
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