Help your health, help SA

The Sunday Times, 2 July 2017

As country's economy improves, so does the health of the population, thanks to better access to healthcare and better health promotion programmes.

Importantly the inverse also applies - investing in and improving the health of the population will help to grow the economy.

More than two-thirds of deaths in the world today are caused by chronic diseases of lifestyle such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. The estimated cost of this to the global economy is over $30 trillion over the next 20 years.

These conditions are largely preventable by the choices we make. Half of the people who die from these diseases are in the prime of their productive lives - people who should be contributing to the economy.

South African National surveys in 1998 and 2016 paint a disturbing picture. The proportion of men who are overweight or obese rose by over 10% during this time. Among women, overweight and obesity increased from 56% to 68% over the same period.

While many issues in or country may seem beyond our control, our own health and the health of our family are certainly decisions that are in our own hands:

• We can choose what and how much eat;
• We can decide how much exercise to do; and
• We can ensure we have relevant medical tests, get vaccinated and take the medication our doctors prescribe.

An investment in our health is an investment in a better future for ourselves and our country.

- Dr Craig Nossel, Head of Vitality Wellness