Fitness and health awareness on the rise in TT

EVERY day, especially on weekends, when you drive by the Queen’s Park Savannah or any other recreation ground in TT, you will see scores of people exercising. It is obvious this country has become more serious about fitness. Last year, there were 150 long-distance running events across TT, along with fitness fairs and other health initiatives being held constantly.

The 5K event is now so popular that runners and walkers have to choose what event to compete in because at times there are a number of races on one weekend.

Some of the popular annual races are the TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) 10K and Teachers One Lap, RBC Race for the Kids 5K and 15K, Guardian Group SHINE 5K and 10K Charity Walk and Run, the TT International 5K and the Scotiabank Women Against Breast Cancer 5K.

It is clear that people are showing interest in their health in an effort to decrease their chances of getting lifestyle diseases which can be caused by a lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating, which often leads to obesity.

Activities geared towards fighting child obesity have also been taking place in TT with events such as the Students Fitness Fair hosted by the En ToTo organisation and the Bishop Anstey East/Trinity College East weekly 5K event.

En ToTo is a Non-Governmental Organisation dedicated to changing the social landscape through youth-oriented initiatives in TT.

At a Fitness Fair hosted by En ToTo recently, Sharon Rowley, wife of the Prime Minister, urged children to get involved in physical activity. “I use to be very active when I was at school and I would be involved in everything from karate to athletics. I go to the gym now three times a week and I always encourage my children to be involved in sport.”

Twenty schools attended the fitness fair with 20 students representing each school. Rowley, who was the patron of the Fitness Fair, said children need to pay attention to their health to ensure longevity.

“We have to look at our physical fitness, as the motto says ‘Your health is your wealth’ and it means that if we are to improve TT, if we are to ensure that our young people become the leaders of tomorrow, it is important that they watch what they eat and also that they do exercise and ensure that their health will be their wealth in the future.”

Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Shamfa Cudjoe, who also attended the fair, said it is the ministry’s goal to ensure the health of young people. “This is our business, not just to promote sport, but to encourage you from a very young age to partake in physical activity to keep you healthy. As you said on your banner ‘Your health is your wealth’ and all of this school education and the formal education that you are obtaining right now would mean absolutely nothing if you are not healthy and able to enjoy the fruits of your labour.”

Jacinta Bailey-Sobers, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, said child obesity statistics in TT are alarming. She said, “We are here to encourage you to ensure that you exercise and have physical activity as the Minister said. Just recently we heard that 51.1 per cent of our young people 13 to 15 (years old) are obese. We cannot have that because we know if you are obese when you’re young it means as an adult you will also be obese, so you need to start taking action at this age and even younger.”

The Fitness Fair, held at Mandela Park, included a walk through St Clair, football and cricket.
Elvis Guy, president of Sweaters Touring Team, an exercise and football group, said people now know the value of exercise.

“They are more aware now that a healthier lifestyle is a longer life,” Guy said.
The Sweaters Touring Team has contributed to a more healthy TT, as the group has held three 5K/10K events previously.
Nigel Bellamy, founder of By Athletes For Athletes (BAFA), agrees people are paying more attention to their health.

“There is a real movement for wellness in this country. People are getting a lot more sensitised, and thanks to social media, the positive message of wellness is spreading like wildfire. You are going to find different groups, different NGOs and companies (hosting events).”
BAFA runs a website informing people of all the long-distance events happening in the country. Bellamy said last year’s figure of 150 was “astronomical.”

“It really was an explosion, it really seems to be hitting a very high note with the community. Couple years ago, you were lucky to get a race on a weekend, and people will be running what races were available. Now you have to choose, because there are just so many and you can’t physically attend all. You need to pick and choose which ones you want to go to.”
Guy says it is important to mix exercise and diet.

“I have seen numerous people come in with a certain weight, and once they stay with us and stay with the exercise, and of course a proper diet (they will get results). We endorse diet, we don’t endorse any outside chemicals...just hard work and diet, and I have seen the results, numerously.”

Guy encourages people to not only exercise for Carnival, but to make it a routine.
“When they achieve their goal for Carnival and they lose their pounds, after Carnival, the Carnival people just go back into unhealthy eating and gain back the weight in a matter of a month.”

Guy said it is a fulfilling feeling to help change lives through exercise.
“When I see the effort that people make, I really feel comfort in myself, knowing that I did something to make a difference in TT in my small way. It is just comfort, peace and joy knowing that you could do something positive and it can impact others.”