Text: Gugu Maduna. Pictures: Thinkstock (Statistics based on those surveyed). Source: GlaxoSmithKline. Article May 2012 issue of Bona Magazine.
Health concerns linked to fast foods have become a worry more especially with 2011 seeing SA wobble into the top three fattest countries in the world.
We all know that fast food isn’t nutritionally the best thing we can feed our minds and bodies, but still we fall victim to that burger craving or the sudden call for pizza. And it’s this weakness for the fatter things in life that had SA ranked as the third fattest country in the world last year (hot on the heels of America and Great Britain, followed closely by Australia) in a national health survey conducted by leading pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
Mzansi’s relationship with fast foods
According to the McDonald’s SA website (www.mcdonalds.co.za), since opening their first local branch in 1995, ours is one of the most successful markets in McDonald’s international history. So what is our fascination with junk food and why aren’t we heeding the warnings to slow down?
The same GSK study found that 61% of South Africans are overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. But it would seem the biggest problem is not our waistlines, but the gap that exists between reality and perception: a large portion of this 61% don’t even believe they have a problem.
According to Chief Research Specialist at the Centre for the Study of Social and Environmental Determinants of Nutrition, Dr Nelia Steyn our growing waistlines can be attributed to the fast pace at which our lifestyles are changing. Research conducted by Steyn and associates, shows that fast food intake is influenced by time limitations, convenience and taste. Here are some of the factors responsible for our love of fast foods:
1. Growing middle class
South Africa has, over the last few years, been the favourite of many foreign investors, largely because of our growing middle class who now have increased spending power. Today, we have more home and car owners and more internet and mobile phone users than ever before. Researchers estimate that one in three Africans is considered middle class. And with their dispensable cash, people tend to spend more on items and experiences that were once considered luxuries, like dining out and fast food.
2. Working mothers
Females now form a significant portion of the SA work force. Today’s modern mom is juggling parenthood, a career, relationships and much more. As a result of time constraints, slaving over the stove is no longer a priority, forcing working women to opt for quick takeaways to put meals on the table. Unfortunately these foods are energy rich but lack the micronutrients we need for a healthy, balanced diet.
3. Convenience
When fast food became a part of South Africans’ lives in the 1960s (with the launch of Wimpy), it was restricted to those who could afford the luxury, as well as those who lived close to a franchise. Today, fast food is affordable, accessible and often cheaper and more convenient than other food sources.
4. Perceptions that healthy food is expensive
Of the people surveyed in the GSK survey, 65% believed healthy food was more expensive than unhealthy food. With a lot of people surviving from paycheque to paycheque, unhealthy foods are the cheap alternative, especially since they are both filling and packed with energy (although with devastating health implications).
5. Irresistable advertising
Aside from encountering numerous outlets everywhere you go, we are also bombarded with advertisements promoting not only the food itself, but the lifestyle that comes with it.
Steyn says over the last four decades, South Africans have been “exposed to the ruthless effects of advertising, which shows desirable foods, drinks and lifestyle.” Critics have claimed that false information given to consumers through branding and advertising is the key behind the mass appeal of unhealthy foods.
A few years ago, following trends like the banning of cigarette advertising, The Department of Health began plans to crack down on advertisers promoting misleading information to consumers in two major stages: firstly, by introducing strict regulations on how nutritional claims are defined, for example low fat’ or ‘high fibre’; and secondly by banning junk food advertisements aimed at children under 16. They deemed these the two factors as main influencers of our relationship with fast food.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi also expressed intentions to ban free toys with kiddies’ meals as they provide incentives for eating “unhealthy products.”
Even though the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said obesity is the biggest global health hazard, the bill to ban fast food advertising in SA has still not been passed. However as of 1 March 2012 a Food Labelling Regulation has taken effect – meaning that all food manufactured, imported and sold in SA must be labelled with detailed nutritional and compositional information.
What can we do?
The best way to combat the growing health problems in SA is by educating ourselves on healthy eating, alternative choices, portion control, self-restraint and a general understanding of what we are putting in our mouths. A balanced diet should consist of carbohydrates, proteins and even fats – the trick is knowing the difference between foods that harm and foods that heal.- Carbs are needed for brain functioning, they’re the fuel for our bodies – make good choices like cereals, wholegrain rice, breads, pastas, fruit and vegetables.
- Proteins are an important component in any diet as they provide support for crucial body functions. Stock up on protein-rich foods like eggs, beans, meat, fish and nuts.
- Most people are convinced that fats are bad and should be cut out, but not all fats are the bad guys. We need the good kind to protect our organs, store certain vitamins etc. Steer clear of saturated fats (like those found in chocolate, ice cream and butter) and opt instead for unsaturated fats from foods like avocado, fatty fish like sardines or tuna and olive, canola or sunflower oil. Health experts have come up with the Perfect Plate based on the Recommended Daily Allowance of nutrients: 2 000 calories, 65g of fat (only 20g saturated) and 300g of carbs. The Perfect Plate simplifies this by representing your portions visually: half your plate should be fruit or vegetables, and the other divided equally into your proteins and carbs.
Fast facts
- 56% of women and 29% of men are overweight in SA
- 49% of South Africans don’t exercise • 71% of South Africans have never dieted
- Cape Town leads the pack with 72% overweight, followed by Pretoria (68%), Johannesburg (59%) and Durban (52%)
- 17% of SA children aged one to nine are obese
- 47% believe the government should play a more active role in targeting obesity
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