scholarly journals Do lifestyle choices influence the development of overweight and obesity in the South African Air Force, Bloemfontein?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Carina Haasbroek ◽  
Ronette Lategan-Potgieter ◽  
Cornel van Rooyen ◽  
Marizeth Jordaan
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
The South ◽  
Lifestyle Choices

Do lifestyle choices influence the development of overweight and obesity in the South African Air Force?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carina Haasbroek ◽  
Ronette Lategan-Potgieter ◽  
Cornel Van Rooyen ◽  
Marizeth Jordaan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
South African ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Lifestyle Factors ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Meal Frequency ◽  
The South ◽  
Military Population ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
High Prevalence

Abstract Background: An increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity has been reported globally amongst the general public as well as military populations around the world. No information about the prevalence of overweight and obesity as well as the lifestyle choices that influence the development is available for the South African military population. The aim of this study was too determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity at Air Force Base Bloemspruit in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa, as well as the dietary and lifestyle factors and physical activity which may play a role in the development thereof. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on active military personnel, by taking anthropometric measurements and collecting data using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: A high prevalence of overweight (38.6%) and obesity (36.1%) was identified in the study population. No significant associations were detected between lifestyle factors or physical activity and body mass index (BMI). The majority of participants (59.6%) consumed three meals per day. Meal frequency did not differ between different BMI categories, and no associations were found between meal frequency and being overweight or obese. Inadequate intakes of fruit and vegetables were observed. Conclusion: A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed in this study, which calls for urgent intervention. No associations were, however found between dietary and lifestyle factors and the presence of overweight and/or obesity. Further investigation is required to identify the causes of overweight and obesity and effective ways to address this health challenge.

scholarly journals Rapid Increases in Overweight and Obesity Among South African Adolescents: Comparison of Data From the South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey in 2002 and 2008

2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasiragha P. Reddy ◽  
Ken Resnicow ◽  
Shamagonam James ◽  
Itumeleng N. Funani ◽  
Nilen S. Kambaran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
The South

scholarly journals Body size, Mental health and Inequalities: The burden of obesity in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Koupil ◽  
J Mchiza ◽  
M Z Hossin ◽  
W Parker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South African ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
The South ◽  
South African Population ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity

Abstract Background Given the substantial burden of obesity in South Africa, it is important to understand how specific aspects of socioeconomic position influence the risk of unhealthy weight in different gender or ethnic groups. Methods We investigated body mass index distributions among subjects aged 15+ years from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Determinants of underweight, overweight and obesity were studied in 1655 (73%) men and 3104 (74%) women who had data available on social and mental health characteristics. Logistic and multinomial regressions were used to study associations with weight categories. Results Less than half of the subjects had healthy weight, 22% were overweight and 29% were obese. The proportion of healthy weight decreased and the risk of obesity increased with age up to 65 years. African women had a particularly high risk of overweight and obesity compared to men (age adjusted OR 4.65, 95% CI 3.94-5.50). The effect of gender was smaller in non-Africans (age adjusted OR 3.02, 95% CI 2.41-3.79; test for statistical interaction p = 0.004). Employment and higher education were associated with higher risk of overweight and obesity and a lower risk of underweight. Married subjects were at a higher risk of overweight and obesity. In men, higher income was associated with overweight and obesity. We found weak evidence of poor mental health being associated with unhealthy BMI. Conclusions There are social gradients and gender and ethnic differences in how underweight, overweight and obesity are distributed in the South African population. A high prevalence of obesity among women and positive associations of education, employment and income with overweight and obesity call for investments into health literacy. Action is also needed to prevent undernutrition among socially disadvantaged groups, and men in particular. Key messages There are strong social gradients and important gender and ethnic differences in how underweight, overweight and obesity are distributed in the South African population. High prevalence of obesity in women and positive associations of socioeconomic position with obesity indicate poor health literacy. Undernutrition needs to be reduced among socially disadvantaged.

scholarly journals Bestuursontwikkelingsbehoeftes in die Suid-Afrikaanse lugmag: 'n Vergelykende studie van die persepsies van die vier kultuurgroepe

2000 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Theart ◽  
B. C. Lessing ◽  
J. M. Schepers
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
South African ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Management Development ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
The South ◽  
Managerial Skills

Management Development Needs in the South African Air Force: A comparative study of the perceptions of four cultural groups. The object of the study was to determine whether the perceptions of managers and supervisors from different cultural groups in the South African Air Force differ concerning their managerial skills, and to determine to what extent the perceptions of the superiors differ from those of their subordinates. A questionnaire of perceived management development needs was used to determine whether specific training needs exist. It was found that there are indeed statistically significant differences between the various cultural groups'perceptions of their management development needs and that training needs exist within all four cultural groups. Opsomming Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal of die persepsies van bestuurders en toesighouers mt verskillende kultuurgroepe in die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag, rakende hul bestuursvaardighede, onderling van mekaar verskil en om te bepaal in watter opsig die persepsies van bogeskiktes van die van hul ondergeskiktes verskil. nVraelys van waargenome bestuursontwikkelingsbehoeftes is gebruik om te bepaal of daar spesifieke opieidingsbehoeftes bestaan. Daar is bevind dat daar wel statistics beduidende verskille tussen die kultuurgroepe se persepsies van hul bestuursontwikkelingsbehoeftes bestaan en dat daar opieidingsbehoeftes by al vier groepe bestaan.

scholarly journals Is the CAPS School Curriculum in Life Orientation Doing Justice in Educating South African Children on Overweight, Obesity and Under Nutrition?

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Naidoo T ◽  
Maharajh LR ◽  
Balakrishna Y
Keyword(s):  
Public School ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Food Frequency Questionnaire ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
The South ◽  
Food Frequency ◽  
Life Orientation ◽  
Food Recall

Aim: Measure nutritional intake of grade eight learners in a purposively selected public school using 24 hour food recall and the Quantified Food Frequency Questionnaire to identify the food that the participants are consuming and compare the food intake to the South African Food Based Dietary Guideline. Objectives: 1. Measure nutritional intake of grade eight learners in a purposively selected public school using 24-hour food recall and Quantified Food Frequency Questionnaire. 2. Measure the BMI of grade eight learners in a purposively selected public school to determine overweight and obesity. 3. Analyse levels of obesity, overweight and nutritional deficiency among grade eight learners in a purposively selected public school and draw comparison with the nutrition education in the CAPS curriculum in Life Orientation and develop a possible new curriculum in Life Orientation to address the problem of obesity, overweight and nutritional deficiency. Method: This was a South African study conducted in KwaZulu–Natal that addressed the issue of obesity, overweight and nutrient deficiency amongst grade eight girls in a school in Durban Central. The learners at that school came from a diverse cultural and racial background. This was a study in an urban area. The participants that were included was a small percentage from the general population of grade 8 learners in the area. Ninety learners in Grade 8 were assessed before and after an intervention of nutrition education in terms of their body mass index (BMI) and food intake. Two of the instruments used for data collection were the 24 hour food recall questionnaire, and the Quantified Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ), designed by the South African Medical Research Council and compiled by Steyn & Senekal (1991) to gain data on food intake over a period of time. Nutrient intake was determined using the South African Food Data System (SAFOODS) Food Composition Database (2016). ANOVA tests were used to determine significant differences in food intake between the first and second set of measurements. Results: The prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity during session one was respectively 23.3%, 14.5% and 12.2%, with no significant change in session two. The daily kilojoule intake dropped from 17209.24 kJ in session one to 13455.39 kJ in session two for the QFFQ (p = 0.0002). The total amount of carbohydrates decreased from session one compared to session two, from 517.82 to 405.38 (p = 0.0003). Although the intervention was successful in reducing the kilojoule intake of the participants, the kilojoule intake remains higher than the recommended Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) of 8665 kJ for the age group of the participants. Conclusion: The study provides evidence that the school environment is an ideal setting for trained educators to provide, unbiased, objective and appropriate information that learners can relate to and apply in daily life. The nutrition programme in this study was based on scientific evidence and proved to be very successful in that a stable balance in the number of obese and overweight learners in session one and two was maintained, despite the challenges and changes that the grade eight learners were exposed to in a new environment. On the basis of this study, recommendations are made for revising the national curriculum as it applies to nutrition education, at all levels.

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