08/09/2022
This week is Global NCD Awareness Week!
- Non communicable diseases or better known as NCD's are the leading cause of mortality accounting for 71% of deaths worldwide - that is approximately 4 million people dying from NCD's every year.
- NCDs are, as the name implies, not communicable, but rather a chronic type of disease, usually having n prolonged duration.
- The big five when it comes to NCD's are: cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, respiratory disease such as COPD, mental health disorders.
- The cause of NCDs are multifactorial including genetic, physiological, socio-environmental and behavioural factors.
- South Africa already has a very high NCD disease burden which may continue to rise as 60% of South African children are brought up in poverty and poor socio-environmental circumstances, predisposing them towards the development of NCDs in adulthood.
- Obesity also plays a central role in the development of several NCDs as more than 90% of type 2 diabetes mellitus, 68% of hypertension, 45% of ischemic strokes and 38% of ischemic heart disease in South Africa occurs as a result of excess body weight. This can at least partially explain the increased prevalence of NCDs in South Africa as our country falls within the top 20 overweight and obese nations world wide, with about 27% of the population being obese. In fact 42% of South African women are obese, placing the amongst those with the highest rates of obesity worldwide.
- Obesity also affects future health and the next generation, as baby’s born for obese women are at an increased risk for developing NCDs later in life.
- Physical inactivity are one of the greatest risk factors for obesity and thus NCDs. The correlation between physical activity and obesity becomes evident when considering that 48% of women are sedentary (physically inactive). Physical activity guidelines for improving health are as follows - participate in at least a 150min of moderate aerobic intensity physical activity each week and at resistance exercise including all major muscle groups at least twice a week on non-consecutive days.
- Diet also plays a pivotal role as unhealthy diets rich in sugar and fat contribute to 1 in 5 deaths globally. Unhealthy diets nurture pro-inflammatory conditions, setting the scene for NCD development. Consuming a well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, low in saturated fats and artificial sugars and containing a higher consumption of lean meat and fish compared to red meat can prove protective when coming to NCD’s.
- Early health interventions focussing on optimal and healthy nutrition, education, and physical activity within a safe environment are imperative. If such interventions are introduced early, from childhood, it can have positive effects on brain development and genetics, reducing future disease risk and improving overall well-being.
How can biokineticists help?
a. Biokineticist are qualified health care providers equipped to prescribe safe and beneficial exercises for a multitude of NCDs as well as other comorbidities and orthopaedic problems.
b. Attending biokinetics frequently provide a means of health monitoring, screening and assessing the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions as blood pressure, blood glucose, and weight are checked routinely with cholesterol also being tested from time to time.
c. Biokineticists follow an individualised approach to exercise and physical activity instead of a one fits all approach. Exercise testing, which may even include a stress ECG are done prior to initiating the exercise program to determine the safety of exercise participation as well as the desired intensity and types of exercises for each individual.
d. Biokineticists can assist with weight loss in setting healthy and attainable weight loss goals, prescribing effective, safe and enjoyable exercises to maximise caloric expenditure, providing general guidelines for increasing incidental physical activity and frequently checking progress with body composition assessments.
e. Biokineticists can also link individuals with other health care providers such as dieticians, physicians and psychologists where needed.
Find a Biokineticist on www.biokineticssa.org.za
