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Angela Onwuzoo
The President of the Federation of African Nutrition Societies, Prof. Ngozi Nnam has said that the consumption of too much meat with fats without adequate intake of fruits and vegetables is fuelling an increase in cases of obesity.
Prof. Nnam, also said less consumption of fruits and vegetables and poor involvement in physical activities were responsible for the high burden of other non-communicable diseases in the country.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise, the professor said people who are already obese can only slim down by consuming plant-based foods and engaging in regular physical activities.
According to her, engaging in physical activities is at no cost, warning those taking concoctions to slim down should desist from it.
Nnam, a professor of Community and Public Health Nutrition at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said, “We tend to eat more fatty foods. We eat too much meat with fats without adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables. That is why you see obesity on the increase.
“Less consumption of fruits and vegetables and poor involvement in physical activities are factors fuelling an increase in obesity and the burden of non-communicable diseases.
“Obesity is the risk factor for most of the non-communicable diseases that are ravaging the world today like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension.”
The nutritionist warned that it is risky for people to consume concoctions to lose weight, stressing that the compositions of these concoctions are unknown.
“There are too many concoctions women carry about and sell in bottles. I don’t advise anybody to buy these concoctions because their production did not follow standard procedures from what we are seeing.
“People should avoid these concoctions, consuming them is risky. You don’t even know the composition.
“People should exercise and consume more plant-based foods. Plant foods help people to lose weight,” she explained.
She recommended that people who want to become slimmer should be involved in exercises such as jogging, and brisk walking, stressing that brisk walking helps to shed accumulated fat.
The nutritionist said she is not in support of the consumption of slimming tea for weight reduction.
“I don’t know what it contains,” she added.
The United States Food and Drug Administration does not recognise any slimming tea as being effective, according to Medical News Today.
The FDA indicates that users report symptoms similar to those seen in people with laxative abuse disorder, which include: cramping, nausea, diarrhoea, aggravate constipation, dependency, weakened colon, and reduced potassium levels, which the agency notes are dangerous for people with heart problems.
The agency warns against the use of most dietary supplements, including slimming teas, mainly due to a lack of reliable studies and evidence of their safety or effectiveness.
Speaking further, Nnam, said there is a need for a lot of nutrition education to enlighten people on proper dietary habits, adding that Nigerians should also be enlightened about the risk of not engaging in regular physical activities.
According to the American Heart Association, science has linked being inactive and sitting too much with a higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon and lung cancers, and early death.
“It’s clear that being more active benefits everyone and helps us live longer healthier lives.
“Being active lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, dementia and Alzheimer’s, several types of cancer, and some complications of pregnancy.
“Exercise brings about better sleep, including improvements in insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, improves cognition, including memory, attention and processing speed,” the association said.
The World Health Organisation says physical activity has significant health benefits for hearts, bodies, and minds.
WHO notes that physical activity contributes to preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes.
The UN health agency, however, said, “Globally, one in four adults do not meet the global recommended levels of physical activity.
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