Fighting fat

Article by TRE GREAVES/JUSTIN MARVILLE/SHERRYLYN TOPPIN

Several health agencies are hoping to put a stop to fast-food companies sponsoring school sports and other family-oriented activities.

They are also in support of further increasing the tax on sugar sweetened beverages to 20 per cent.

In light of the growing childhood obesity epidemic, president of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC), Sir Trevor Hassell, suggested these were among the recommendations which the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Ministry of Health and the HCC, among others, were considering.

In recent surveys in Barbados 18.5 per cent of students reported consumption of fast food three or more times per week, 73.3 per cent reported drinking one or more carbonated beverages per day and 15.5 per cent of the sample reported no consumption of fruits and vegetables within the last month. (TG/JM/SAT)

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