Dominica does not have the highest rate of obesity in the region contrary to some reports, Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Ricketts has revealed.
Ricketts said this week the results of a survey recently conducted in countries of the region including St. Kitts, Dominica, Barbados and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) show Dominica has the lowest obesity rates.
“I think there was a statement somewhere publicly recently that said that Dominica had the highest obesity rates in the Caribbean or in the Eastern Caribbean, but this is not quite so,” he said.
The survey showed 38 percent of males and 52 percent of females in St. Kitts are obese compared to 9 percent males and 33 percent females in Dominica, according to Dr. Ricketts.
Health officials however have been telling Dominicans to pay closer attention to their health and have warned that obesity levels are increasing.
And Ricketts said though Dominica can speak of low obesity rates compared to several others in the region, health officials are not happy with the current status of obesity on the island.
I am glad this problem is being highlighted. Its about time. People need help now. We all know what we should and should not be eating, but the problem is now psychological. There are counsellors on the island that can help. I visited the new health and wellness centre in town recently and they are doing things to help people who are overweight, which is what is needed in Dominica. Please seek help if you cannot do it by yourself. Don’t kill yourself by eating the wrong things and getting bigger and bigger withojt realising it.
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Dominica News Online – Saturday, November 19th, 2011 at 9:45 AM
that survey doesn’t reflect what i seeing in roseau
KFC= KILLING FOOLISH CUSTOMERS. soon nassief will open a hospital for all those soon-to-be-sick people that forever eating kfc,pizza hut and not forgetting those unhealthy genetically modified killing foods from kill-a-lot….i mean save-a-lot. ppl complaining Dominica dont have variety to eat and what they fail to realize is all that organic good food they grow up eating (if you grew up eating good food) that have them healthy and full of life like that and not living their lives on drugs (pills) for the rest of their life
Only this week i was saying this to a colleague of mine since she was on a cruise to DA and asked why do Dominicans look so good, so fit? In DA We grow everything mostly organically, we walk more, drink fresh natural water no chemicals added. I’m forty pound heavier than when I lived in DA and this is due to me driving more instead of walking, buying all of that vegetables and fruits from the supermarkets that has grown with chemicals. Thumbs up to my peeps. And please I do exercise more than when I was in DA. So it’s generally our way of life…..
I was down on the plantaion for carnival and was taken aback by the size of the women and men
strutting their stuff.OBESITY is a real problem down on the plantation. I was amazed at the number
of JUNK FOOD establishments in the city. KFC, PIZZA HUT,SUBWAY et al.
Thank God I Keep to my , home made all natural foods prepared by my firm Maroness queen.
That’s another reason why we enjoy our abode up here in Morne au diable.
are there any gyms in Roseau
Yes there is-located upstairs ALICO
LUV ME SUM MAMPEE BODA
It doesn’t seem the grandbay region was surveyed.
you are too funny
I GUESS NOT…BOY LOOK OBESE WOMEN…!!!!!!
THATS WHY GRANDBAY “DOWN” SOUTH…
TOO HEAVY
The way of life in Dominica has changed dramatically in a rather short time (bad eating and drinking habits, higher levels and earlier use of drugs etc..). Change is inevitable, when it involves negative attitudes then so too does the results (low self-esteem, higher level of anger and frustration etc..). The food we consume is very critical to the proper functioning of every aspect in our body. Many persons in Dominica believe that the imported foods are superior to that which is organically grown in Dominica hence you have obesity. Many of the imported products have growth hormones (chicken, pork, beef etc.) and artificial preservatives. These additions to food can and do have adverse effects on the body. Genetically our bodies are use-to fresh organic produce so foreign substances can and will affect us more easily. That being observed, the primary measures that need to be undertaken to reverse the effects of obesity involves a change in attitude through education of what constitute good eating habits and food that persons should include and exclude from their daily diet. These measures combined with some form of physical activity will bring about a significant reduction in the level of obesity. Also a healthier body and mind will result in greater inner peace and happiness. Persons will also have more self-esteem and fewer issues with anger and frustration. Dominica is a blessed island with all its potential to grow a variety of produce and the topography is very much suitable for physical activity like walking. Please those of you who are currently obese there is hope and yes it can be reverse but only if you make the right choices.
Mapin has workout programs everyday, and it works!
BLACK WOMEN generally have thicker hips legs, and fuller breasts,(This is our natural beauty) It won’t go away. I’ve seen alot of vuloptuous women\girls during the carnival season, with small midsections (I hope these are not the women\girls everyone is calling FAT) when you have excess weight in you midsections, arms, neck area face, that’s when one should control portion sizes, and do regular workouts…you don’t have to go to the gym to get to your healthiest weight. Before you can judge someone’s appearance we need to realize that there are alot of skinny girls who can’t even bend over and touch there toes whereas some “Fat girls” are in better physical shape than they are.
True true true and new studies are showing that Black women are healthier at heavier wweights than white. Dominicans just need to stop eating KFC, eat more home grown fruits, and walk.
Humans are not meant to have too much fat anywhere on their body. We are deluded if we think this is the case. Too much fat in the body will undoubtedly lead to health problems later on in life. So it might look great seeing it in your 20s, 30s or even 40s, but believe me, these women WILL suffer health problems at a later time. It’s all about what we eat and the amount of exercise we do that really matters.
Did anybody see them pictures from Carnival? I never see so much fat people in Dominica in my whole life. Whether we first, fifth or last among the fat people in the Caribbean, we still too fat and we need to do something about it. Did we stop eating fig and boiled fish? We should go back to that…that kept us lean and clean. Get rid of the KFC and you would be surprised at how many pounds that would leave DA..
LOWEST IN THE REGION!!!!! For the amount of MAMPY!!! that strutting around Roseau alone.. that believe they hot… LAdies doh get vex.. cus it have alot of Fat Greasy Men struttin around too. Carnival time is the best time to make an assessment.. We NEeed HELP!. if we are the lowest… i DO NOT want to see the rest of them other islands. Come on Black People!! Take pride in your appearance… no dont strive to be an anorhexic model…. but take pride in yourself.
Why blame birth control? http://www.webmd.com/community/women-9/pill-weight-gain
JUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN UR SELF AND ASK UR SELF IF UR HAPPY WITH UR SIZE!!!
What a completely ridiculous thing to say.
The disparity in obesity between men and women in Dominica is so large only an idiot would need a survey to tell him. So many young girls walking around with fat ( and not pregnant) bellies its sad…and they wonder why a lot of men look elsewhere. As soon as they get a man they let go and just get fat fat fat…and please don’t blame it on the pill; these girls are simply too greedy and lazy.
Go to any gym and see the difference, maybe 15 men to 1 woman, and dont say oh they go aerobics because those classes are small…
Kentucky Fried Chicken my friend. You should see the line.
true dat
i think that the reason we see alot of bigger people on the streets in Dominica is because they actually walk on the streets as oppose to other countries
I BETTING, THE 30% OF WOMEN THAT BIG DIA
IT HAVE MEN THAT TROUBLING THEM TO CHECK
EVERY BODY CANNOT BE SLIM AND TRIM
CAUSE NOT ALL MAN THAT LIKE DEM SLIM
SOME MEN, LIKE MY BOSSMAN LIKE DEM WITH PLENTY MEAT ON THEM
AND IF ALL YOU CHECKING IT HARD TO LOOSE WEIGHT COME CHECK ME
I GO MAKE YOU BURN SOME FAT
SOMETIMES THE GYM WORKOUT NOT THE RIGHT WORK OUT
LOL….U gave me the laugh of the afternoon
Is there really a contest for obesity?
Obesity is increasing for several reasons:
Consumption of adulterated food as opposed to the natural growing organic local crops
Hormone imbalance
Too many cars and too little exercise.
Ask the Educator he will compare it with canada.
Wonder if that survey is correct because it is a little difficult to believe. When one walks the street every 3 out of 5 women are fat. Every 2 out of five men are fat. This survey must have been done in a different Dominica
33% obesity rate? That’s as bad as the one of the “heaviest states in the USA – Louisiana”.
Growing up in the northeast of the island, I remember just a handful of people that looked over-weight or fat. I saw some people (especially women) that I left home 15yrs ago, and I was surprised to see how huge they got. I think a combination of things are causing that: I) people walk/exercise less; ii) changed of eating habbit. I remember walking to school as a teacher almost a mile each way – I was fit and slim. However, with the number of people having vehicles now, I would maybe succumb to the pressure of having a vehicle, and those extra calories would have to be expended by some other means. Now I drive everywhere, and you know what? The extra pounds starting adding up.
A lot of Dominicans have changed eating habits, going for the ‘fast food’..KFC and the likes. After a few yrs in the US, I have no appetite for those foods; I crave our traditional local foods, which are readily available at a price. We need to appreciate and eat our local foods more- better and healthier.
Not to sure on the accuracy of this report nuh. Been to several Caribbean countries and Dominica and b/dos have de biggest women. I suspect the birth control may be playing a part. Take a look at the carnival pictures Marpin shows of Dominicans in the 1980’s and 1990’s and come pare the size to now its like the average Dominican (female in particular) is 3 times bigger.
You have obviously never visited St Kitts. In fact, just last week, I commented to someone while there, that St Kitts obviously has the most obese women in the OECS. This survey confirms that I was right.
Dominican men stop patting yourselves on the back as if all is well with you. There are a number of ‘pregnant’ men walking around giving the obese women some serious competition. Get rid of your beer bellies and get real.
yaw yaw
Dominica may not have the highest rate of obesity, but I’ll say, our young women are still much too fat, yes!
And that is true because we are not living as long as our women of older days, nuh! Just pay attention to their ages at death of much older people–especially the women. They are even alive with ages like 120 years.
Yes, that was how old one lady, in my village of Giraudel, was, when I visited Dominica in 2008. My grandmother died there at 98 years old. But every time I asked about one of my girlfriends, same age with me, a little younger or a little older, I was told she is dead, she is dead, and she is dead; until I just stop asking.
As I looked at everyone, I thought that it was a style for young women to be so overweight, even from 20 years old. When I left Dominica at 21 years old, I was weighing 115 lbs, and still I was a fat one among my other girlfriends. It was strange, to see so many young, beautiful, women with weight like nearly 200 lbs or more in Dominica. After all!
But in those days, when I lived in Dominica, we did not eat so much fried chicken, BBQ ribs with so much greese, like I saw all over the place for sale, when I was there. We were walking to and from Roseau to Giraudel because of lack transportation. But apart from regular buses, almost everyone else drive a personal vehicle
I spent 6 weeks in Giraudel, and not once did they have a party where we would do a little bit of dancing which is such a good exercise. All they did there every weekend was to sit down and play Dominoes–until three to four oclock in the morning. I like Domininoes too! But without exercise all the ladies were too fat. The problem is that they all have little girls coming after them, who might end up gaining all of the useless weight the same way.
I am sure that is the reason our younger women in Dominica are dying long before our mothers and even grandmothers, too!. Good heavens!
hhhmmmm but what u expect,, them woman dat working doh wanna walk,,,, if u working nbd in former banque francaise simply park by lime and do the walk,,,, lime have camera so no one will rob ur vehicle,,,if they do then they foolish,,, i don’t know what’s wrong,,,, i went to the bank last time and the way some of them woman doin,,,, they don’t even want to move nuh,,,, not even a fly that can touch them so is not walk they’ll walk,,, but on another note,,, why the free lunch some fast food outlets provides are the same fast food they sell,,, i think that’s totally wrong and should change,,,, so much money ya’ll make,,, order from guiyave for ur staff,,, once u start working in a fast food chain is like them woman putting weight even security also papa,,, hit the gym,,, it’s not hard to do,,, but them supervisors also keep staff in for long hours to do unnecessary work cause it wasn’t done during the working hour,,, i believe some of our women have kids a lil too early also,,,, it’s like once a woman reach 24 she want to have a kid,,, hey no probs if u ready but evaluate ur situation first,,, they never have time,,,, friday night is sewo,,, saturday is more sewo,,,, and sunday is sleep,,,, u can’t lose weight like that,,,, u all like tripple kay so much,,,, then play the album and jump up in ur house,, maybe u’ll lose weight that way,,,,
woman time i see lol,,,,,,, allu too fat,,,, leave the kfc alone,,,, no wonder so much women have problems with their man,,,, zor kah ghadey toh dworl,,,, hit the gym n lose that weight,,,, sheesh man,,, i’ve always said our women are just gettin too fat,,, every single day is a fast food,,, cha man,,, they can’t even cook,,,,, trust me,,, mots like a thick woman over a meg zoe,,,, but it have a vast different between being thick and being fat,,,, or somebody else’s thickness may not look good on u,,,, so not cause ur friend looking thick n hot u trying to get thick to,,,, but men in dominica stay in shape,,,, u doh hear us complain bout women issues,,, once a chick tryna trip we have 5 more on speed dial
A word to our women: There are many of you at the gym however, many of you need to really do something about your weight. Some of you are treated badly by men post pregnancy thus you overeat and increase in weight.
I say to you to rise up from any kind of abuse or anything that is keeping you back and do something to keep healthy. To those women who do not really go out, buy some exercise machine, cushion or have weights traditionally made for you. If you still cannot afford that, there are exercising channels on tv, simply follow them and do the basic body work out it’s not hard. Next time logos comes around, take advantage and buy some exercising books, they’re not expensive. There is a lot we can do to keep healthy.
Lastly and most importantly, do your best to eat right, strike a balance, manage your eating habits. No one tells you, you shouldn’t eat this or that but whatever you eat, please do it with moderation.
You have spoken well, I hope that our women will take heed of your word of advice.
I think the figures are wrong because there are soooooooooooo many big girls everywhere in D/ca it cannot just be 33%. To be small or average weight in D/ca now is a crime. All them girls taking birth control and blowing up like blowfish.
You think it’s one talk I got about my size? O Allah! If I had to listen to people? Hmmm. This article simply reinforces that I need to take care of my health.
well you’ll fool me .cuz de amount of ‘sackpoorch’ I see in de town there it’s Krazy
well i would say that this so not true because i live in another carribbean country and you should see how much big,large ,overweight woman are here.
wow women its time we hit the gym. this is not good we have too many obese women. the percentage is way over the men.
time to get off the couch and start to walk, get off the bus and jog. get moving get moving. we can do better. Eat healthy people
Hire me i am a nutritionist and i can help to prevent obesity in Dominica.