A new study has revealed that the COVID-19 lockdown in Barbados last year adversely affected the nutrition and health of an already vulnerable group of the population – children.The survey, entitled The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nutrition and Health Practices in a Cohort of Obese Barbadian Children, was conducted among 25 juveniles between ages 10 and 19 who attend the Yute Gym programme of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB).The sample assessment which compared the nutrition and health status of this cohort of obese and overweight children before the onset of COVID and after the lockdown, found that in some instances, the youngsters had put on as many as 41 pounds during the March to June 2020 lockdown.
Ministry of Maritime Affairs supports healthy lifestyle nationnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nationnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Restaurants slammed for ‘hardline stance’ against healthy options
Article by May 20, 2021
Major fast-food restaurants are reluctant to cooperate with health and medical authorities in the drive to get Barbadians to eat healthily and operators have outright refused to pivot to any healthier options, officials said Wednesday.
The officials now suggest it’s time for policymakers to step in, saying that education alone is insufficient to change tastes and stem their impact.
Even as they continue to push for stronger nutritional benefits to be included in local meals as the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs sky rockets, the officials expressed frustration with the restaurants’ resistance.
'Yute Gym' making a healthy difference - Barbados Today barbadostoday.bb - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from barbadostoday.bb Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
We need to act now to protect Caribbean children and young people
We, Caribbean Pediatricians supported by the Healthy Caribbean Coalition community, are deeply concerned about the health and wellness of our region’s children and young people.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic the lives of our children and young people have been turned upside down; the way that they learn, socialize, play, eat, move and sleep has changed, and these changes are having a substantial impact on their physical and mental health. We believe that we are on the cusp of a regional childhood obesity and mental health emergency.