A healthy approach to National Recreation Day
SA is already sitting with 3% of South African women over the age of 15 as being obese
SOUTH Africa has a growing challenge of obesity and unhealthy eating habits which leads to an increase in preventable lifestyle diseases.
As part of responses to address the situation, National Government declared the first Friday of October each year as National Recreation Day to galvanise citizens to engage in action that encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices.
Obesity has globally been ranked 5th as a risk factor for early death and years of life lived with disability or Disability Adjusted Life years (DALYS).
Global research highlights that by 2030, in the absence of intervention intended to address the impact of obesity (and related ailments emanating from lack of or declining physical activity), 50% of global citizens will be obese.
Here at home, South Africa is already sitting with 3% of South African women over the age of 15 as being obese whilst 42% of urban women obese.
It is against this framework that the need to get an active citizenry campaign going to drive the South African population to increasingly embrace an active recreation healthy lifestyle has become mandatory.
Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula said, ‘Our National Sport and Recreation Plan’s Active Nation Pillar has as a strategic objective the need to improve health and well-being of the South African nation by providing mass opportunities through active recreation.
‘Such a strategic objective thus is realisable through National Recreation Day as this platform provides an opportunity to all South Africans to actively be involved through participation in recreational activities that will improve their health and well-being.
‘This day and our strategic response to implementing it wholly as a department also enables us to realise our Vision 2030 as outlined in the Sport and Recreation White Paper, which is to see at least 50% of South Africans participating in active recreation.’
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
