Health agency: Women have higher obesity rates

Women in the Caribbean have higher rates of obesity in terms of body mass index (BMI) than men. Director for Surveillance, Prevention and Control at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Dr Virginia Asin-Ossburg said studies have shown women also have higher rates of abdominal obesity and were three more times more likely to be obese than men.

She said obesity and physical inactivity put women at excess risk of diabetes, which was confirmed by the very high levels of diabetes in the region. Diabetes, a major contributor to premature death, was estimated to affect ten to 15 per cent of the adult population in the Caribbean and was a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke complications, which could lead to the amputation of lower limbs.

In a release yesterday, CARPHA said women with diabetes have more difficulty conceiving and may have poor pregnancy outcome. During pregnancy, high blood glucose substantially increased the health risk of mother and baby.

CARPHA said it was imperative for people to place their health before preferences, and all women were encouraged to pay particular attention to maintaining a healthy body weight and waist size.

The agency said diabetes could be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with medication, regular screening and treatment for complications.

“We urge you to visit your doctor or health facility to get screened for diabetes. Following your diabetes treatment regimen and keeping your blood glucose under control is important to avoid serious complications of this disease,” Asin-Ossburg said.

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"Health agency: Women have higher obesity rates"

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