Page 33 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 12

WHOLENESS
dence has demonstrated a high
correlation between obesity and
more severe outcomes, includ-
ing a higher likelihood of dying,
from COVID-19.
• The Centers for Disease
Control(CDC) in this month’s
publication(March, 2021)
identifies obesity: https://www. toxic agrochemicals Why? Be-
cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/
wr/mm7010e4.htm ,titled
Body Mass Index and risk of
COVID-19 related hospital
admissions, intensive care unit
admission, invasive mechanical
ventilation and death, March
2020 – December,2020.
• From the article summary; “...
Obesity* is a recognized risk
factor for severe COVID-19
(1,2), possibly related to chron- •
ic inflammation that disrupts
immune and thrombogenic
responses to pathogens (3) as
well as to impaired lung func-
tion from excess weight.”
• A leading health advocate and
nutrition policy advisor, Marion
Nestle, in Food Politics, makes
reference to the CDC article
and recommends a multidisci-
plinary approach to address-
ing the increasing burden of
obesity: To quote her; “I was
struck by headlines last week
stating that a CDC study found
that 78% of people hospitalized
with Covid-19 were overweight
or obese.”
• She identifies poverty, inequity,
inadequate education, unem-
ployment, limited access to
healthcare and of course, poor
diets, as the direct and indirect
causes of overweight and obe-
sity. https://www.foodpolitics.
com/2021/03/24297/
• The author of this article, Dr.
Peter Mokaya, agrees that obe-
WWW.MSINGIAFRIKAMAGAZINE.COM
sity is a modifiable risk factor
which is within the control
of those affected and can be
addressed through dietary and
behavioral changes that include
consuming healthier foods, but
even more so, safer, diverse, lo-
cal and organic, agro-ecological-
ly grown foods, without use of
cause the residues of these toxic
agrochemicals when consumed
harm the gut microbiota (useful
bacteria and other microorgan-
isms) and create epithelial cell
joint abnormal permeability aka
“leaky gut”, a major cause of
obesity and inflammation, while
concurrently weakening the
immune system and increasing
vulnerability to COVID-19.
What is the way forward in
addressing obesity? Have a
listen to this short video by the
author of this article, Dr. Peter
Mokaya: He articulates the nu-
tritional and epidemiological ad-
vantages of consuming safe and
diverse, local, organic foods as
part of the supportive package
of preventive care to reduce the
risk of infection and the severity
of COVID-19 disease. https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-
QGWnRs1G_o
ISSUE 12 | MAY/JUNE 2021
MY AFRIKA
TEN COMMON
FACTS ABOUT OBESITY
• Over 300,000 deaths in the U.S. a
year are attributed to obesity. Obesity
is second only to smoking as a cause
of premature death in the United
States.
• Obesity is known to be a major risk
factor for breast cancer in postmeno-
pausal women. It also may determine
the rate of breast cancer cell growth
and tumor size.
• Even fat-free food can be rich in
sugar. In many cases, manufacturers
will replace fat calories with sugar
calories so the food remains desir-
able to the palate.
• Obesity can strain muscles in the pel-
vic area, which can weaken muscles,
contributing to vaginal prolapse.
• Child safety seat manufacturers
have begun to make bigger models
after a recent study showed that
over 250,000 U.S. children age 6 and
under are too fat to use the standard
models.
• According to an online survey by the
Rudd Center for Food Policy and
Obesity at Yale University, nearly half
of the 4,000 people surveyed report-
ed that they would give up a year of
their life rather than be fat.
• In 2000, airlines spent $275 million
on 350 million additional gallons of
fuel to compensate for the additional
weight of their passengers.
• An average American eats over 100
lbs. of sugar per year
• One hundred years ago, the average
person ate less than 10 pounds of
sugar per year. Today, the average
person in the U.S. eats over 100
pounds per year. Currently, sugar
intake represents 50% of a person’s
carbohydrate intake for the day.
According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), only 10% of
a person’s diet should come from
sugar.
• As of 2006, there were more people
in the world who are overweight
than malnourished.
• At least 2.8 million people die each
year as a result of being overweight
or obese. Although once associated
with high-income countries, obesity
is also becoming prevalent in low-
and middle-income countries.
33
Source: www.factretriever.com