Nutrition Week: 9 - 16 October

Nutrition week is celebrated from the 9-16 October annually. The Western Cape Provincial Department of Health will be launching the Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) during nutrition week.

The National Department of health has approved a set of FBDG to be used as a basis for a healthy eating plan to promote healthy living and to combat the growing burden of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, diabetes and dental carries and nutritional disorders associated with poverty and under nutrition.

"The Western Cape Province is in a 'Nutrition transition' with obesity and associated diseases of lifestyle becoming serious public health problems," said Pierre Uys, Minister of Health for the Western Cape. It was reported that 9.2% of men and 19.3% of women in the province have hypertension. Additionally 25.3% men are overweight compared to 25.9% women while 13.1% men are obese and 31.2% of women. These figures are particularly high demonstrating the portion of the population that is directly affected by the nutrition transition.

"Nutrition's role in reducing the burden of disease, specifically in the management of healthy lifestyles is becoming more critical," Uys said. The National Department of Health plays an integral part through its Healthy Lifestyle Campaign, which promotes the consumption of vegetables and fruit as part of healthy eating with the theme "Eat vegetables and fruit for Better Health".

The Provincial Department of Health will launch the Food Based Dietary Guideline on Monday, 9 October 2006 at Lookout Hill, Khayelitsha. "These guidelines form the core of the nutrition educational messages to create a Healthier Home for All and to promote appropriate diets, physical activity and healthy lifestyles among all South Africans," said Uys.