Dietary choices in modern Jamaica

‘Overfed and Undernourished: Dietary Choices in Modern Jamaica’ was the topic former GraceKennedy scholar Professor Marvin Reid focused on at the annual GraceKennedy Foundation Lecture at The Jamaica Pegasus last week.

In his 45-minute-long presentation on nutrition, Reid highlighted the various challenges across all sectors of the Jamaican demographic caused by wrong food choices.

He pointed out that the country spends approximately $80 billion on lifestyle-related illnesses per year, including diabetes and hypertension. He noted that obesity was also becoming an issue in Jamaica, as shown in the 2008 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey, which reported that 25 per cent of the Jamaican population was obese.

At the same time, he said, undernutrition was also a significant issue.

Reid stated that all stakeholders had a role to play in creating a healthier, productive population.

Giving examples of the right food choices, he noted that individuals had to take responsibility for what they put into their bodies and those of their children. He added that the Government also had a role to play in addressing the dietary issues faced by the population.

He treated the attendees inside the filled-to-capacity ballroom to a range of solutions to address their personal dietary choices, including monitoring the number of calories in each meal.

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