NEW YORK, United States--Heads of government from four Caribbean countries gathered for a high-level meeting in New York City recently to discuss how public health policies can tackle the growing burden of overweight and obesity in the region.
Across the Caribbean, 40 to 70 per cent of adults and nearly 30 per cent of children are overweight or obese.
Moreover, diabetes is one of the region’s most pressing public health problems. Nearly 11.9 per cent of the population has diabetes, well above the global rate of 8.5 per cent. Caribbean adults consume an estimated two servings of sugary beverages per day, the highest of any region.
Speaking at the meeting on Wednesday, Michael R. Bloomberg, World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Bloomberg Philanthropies Founder, said: “The good news is that we know how to reduce obesity, through policies like taxes on sugary drinks, better labelling on unhealthy food, and healthier school meals. And we’re beginning to make progress.”
Among the Caribbean leaders present were Prime Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne; St. Lucia, Allen Chastanet; Jamaica, Andrew Holness; and Barbados, Mia Mottley. ~ Caribbean360 ~
