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Bird Rock, St Kitts, St Kitts and Nevis, West Indies

info@lakehealthandwellbeing.com

+1 869 765 8702

Diet

Category: Diet

ConversationWithKids
DietNews
February 6, 2023

Conversation With Our Kids

On Saturday 4th February, we were so happy to feature on Conversation with Our Kids, a new radio show on WINN FM which aims to give children a voice and is thus a series that is for kids, created by kids.

We had a great time on the show which started with some fun ice-breaker questions and then we transitioned into exploring healthy eating with hosts Kadique and Xzavia. During the interview we touched on the harms of overconsuming sugar, why children should eat fruits and vegetables, the long-term impact of unhealthy eating and the work that we at Lake Health and Wellbeing do to educate children about healthy eating.

You can watch the recording of the episode above and we would like to say a big thank you to WINN FM,  the Conversation with Our Kids team and our wonderful hosts, Kadique and Xzavia, for their warm welcome and for giving us the opportunity to discuss this important topic.

By admin
GMSKN
DietYou're Sweet Enough
July 5, 2022

We Were on GMSKN

On the 4th July 2022, we were delighted to join the Essence of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation and SIS Inc on Good Morning SKN to discuss the work that our charities are doing in St Kitts and Nevis. 

This interview was part of efforts by Change for Charity, a new fundraising initiative in the Federation, to highlight the work of NGOs and encourage the public to support these worthy causes. 

During the interview, we explored holistic health, and some of our projects, including You’re Sweet Enough, our work on fibroids, My Healthy Heroes and our COVID-19 and NCDs project.  If you missed this episode of Good Morning SKN, you can watch the recording below.

By admin
SodaPicture
DietNewsSugarYou're Sweet Enough
May 2, 2022

The Impact of Sweetened Drinks

In April 2022, the Healthy Caribbean Coalition hosted an excellent symposium on food policy in the Caribbean and during this event we were delighted to hear about work conducted in Trinidad and Tobago to evaluate the link between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This work was part of a project conducted by the Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy entitled “Empowering healthcare decision-makers to achieve regional needs in sugar-sweetened beverages policies in Latin America and the Caribbean: building a framework to evaluate the disease burden and the cost-effectiveness of available interventions; and estimating the disease burden in Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago.”

As part of this project researchers aimed to determine the burden of disease that is attributable to the consumption of SSBs and also the cost of the illnesses that are related to SSBs.  

The team behind this project have very helpfully put together an infographic to share their findings and this can be downloaded from their website here, but in summary, here are some of the key findings:

The Impact of SSBs on the Health of Persons in Trinidad and Tobago

Their study found that in Trinidad and Tobago, the overconsumption of SSB is linked to  15,000 cases of
overweight and obesity in adults and 11,700 cases in children and adolescents as well as 44,100 cases of diabetes, 2000 cardiac disease cases and 1500 renal failure cases. 

Excerpt from the IECS Infographic
The Economic Impact of SSBs

The study also determined that Trinidad and Tobago spends 156 million TT Dollars per year to treat diseases associated with excessive consumption of SSBs.

Page 5 of the IECS infographic
Conclusion

This work is very significant as it adds to the growing evidence highlighting the negative impact that SSBs have on the health of the public.  This work is useful in that it quantifies both the health and economic impact of SSBs and thus gives policymakers an idea of the magnitude of the impact of SSBs and how many lives can be saved and improved if we can reduce SSB consumption.

Reference

Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. The hidden side of sugary beverages in Trinidad and Tobago.
Alcaraz A, Gittens-Baynes K, La Foucade A, Balan D, Perelli L, Cairoli F, Beharry V, Gabriel S, Laptiste C, Espinola N, Palacios A, Comolli M, Augustovski F, Bardach A, Metivier C, Pichon-Riviere A. Dec 2020, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Available at: www.iecs.org.ar/sugar and https://sta.uwi.edu/fss/heu/fiscal-policy-taxation-sin-taxes

By admin
MeetTheWillbutsCover
DietNewsYou're Sweet Enough
March 30, 2022

We’ve Been Shortlisted for WHO Film Festival

Meet the Willbuts, a short animation depicting how sugar-sweetened beverages and an unhealthy diet impact a typical Caribbean family, has been shortlisted for the World Health Organisation (WHO) Health for All Film Festival.

The WHO Health for All Film Festival is held annually to demonstrate how creative media is being mobilised for health promotion and education. The festival invites submissions from patients, health workers, health activists, NGOs, public institutions and professional filmmakers of short films on a wide range of health-related topics, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental health, disability, and communicable diseases as well as environmental and social determinants of health, such as gender-based violence, road safety and pollution.

Meet the Willbuts was submitted by Lake Health and Wellbeing, a public health NGO in St. Kitts and Nevis. The animation was shortlisted under the very short film category for conveying messages about NCDs and the need for families to improve their diets for better health outcomes. Lake Health and Wellbeing’s submission was recognised out of over 1000 submissions from 110 countries – a major achievement that places St. Kitts and Nevis on the global stage for health promotion and education.

The winners will be announced in May; in the meantime, WHO is encouraging the public to get involved by selecting a film that they would like to champion and then commenting on its story or topic before May 10, 2022. Comments can be posted on social media using the hashtag #Film4Health or through the WHO’s YouTube playlists available on the festival’s website. Some comments from the public will be featured during the Health for All Film Festival’s virtual awards ceremony in mid-May.

Meet the Willbuts was produced as part of Lake Health and Wellbeing’s You’re Sweet Enough campaign which aims to tackle the high rate of non-communicable diseases locally and regionally by encouraging the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Specifically, the campaign focuses on encouraging the public to reduce their consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and consume water instead.

Dr Fanta Waterman, a board member of Lake Health and Wellbeing, said:

“With campaigns like You’re Sweet Enough, Lake Health and Wellbeing continuously demonstrates its commitment to making health literacy accessible, actionable and fun for all. This will only help to improve the health outcomes of people living in this region – and now, globally! I am so proud to be affiliated with this organisation and am glad many others will get to see this animation about how to maintain one’s health.”

Maisha Hutton, Executive Director of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, stated that:

“We’re extremely delighted that one of our civil society members has been shortlisted for the WHO Health for All Film Festival. This highlights that civil society can occupy the tech-innovation space to reach the public with important public health messages. This is a major achievement for the Caribbean and showcases the talent and creativity that exists in our region.”

Finally, one of Lake Health and Wellbeing’s main project partners, the Ministry of Health, said:

“The Ministry of Health is grateful for the partnership cultivated with Lake Health and Wellbeing as one of the leading organisations dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of our local, regional and now global community. The You’re Sweet Enough campaign has generated conversations regarding healthy drinking and the importance of consuming adequate water. As a civil society organisation, their aim is to contribute to the improvement of public health. Therefore, their positive influence is having a profound impact on the healthy decisions made by members of our society.”

By admin
GroupShot
DietSugarYou're Sweet Enough
August 25, 2021

No SSB Drink Water Challenge launches

Thirty-eight individuals signed up to take the You’re Sweet Enough: No SSB Drink Water Challenge as part of the SKN Moves 7-week health campaign. 

The No SSB Drink Water Challenge encourages persons to make healthier choices by eliminating the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and to drink water instead. Participants will track their water consumption daily using a water tracking app and submit photo or video testimonials about their experience. At the end of two weeks, those who consumed the most water will be awarded prizes.

 A few challenge participants met for the first time at an orientation session where each person shared their motivations for signing up to drink only water for two weeks from August 22nd to September 5th.  “Sugar is a drug that is bad for us, yet it is everywhere” said one participant who recognizes the negative health effects of consuming SSBs. Another participant expressed that the challenge is a natural progression of the healthy lifestyle changes that she’s trying to make. Multiple participants shared the fact that they have a family history of diabetes and other NCDs and so they were taking the No SSB challenge to improve their health chances and to set a better example in their homes and communities. 

The You’re Sweet Enough: No SSB Drink Water Challenge is coordinated by Lake Health and Wellbeing during week 4 of the Ministry of Health’s SKN Moves 7-week health campaign. SKN Moves is an initiative designed under the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Programme to create a healthy lifestyle culture centered on healthy eating practices, regular physical activity and regular health checks/screenings. You’re Sweet Enough is a health education campaign led by Lake Health and Wellbeing to inform and educate the public about the links between consuming SSBs and the development of obesity, diabetes and other NCDs.

You can find out more about our You’re Sweet Enough campaign on our campaign website. 

 

 

By admin
Day2Lunch.png
Diet
June 22, 2021

Food and Nutrition Security in the Caribbean

In an article written by the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Timothy Antoine, he explains how the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating food and nutrition insecurity across the Caribbean region. Food and nutrition security is not only about the sustainability of food supply systems, but it is also about food accessibility, price, safety and nutritional value. The article highlights the fact that the pandemic has further weakened vulnerable food systems in the region due to high levels of dependence on imported products from international food supply chains. 

Antoine notes how the health impacts of the pandemic are particularly alarming since income losses are limiting households’ ability to purchase nutritious foods, which are vital for building healthy immune response to illnesses during the pandemic. Considering these economic challenges, the purchase and consumption of cheaper, ultra-processed foods that are high in sodium, sugar and fats has increased. Prior to the pandemic, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region was already attributed to poor nutrition and unhealthy consumption choices, and within the current economic context, these unhealthy food alternatives are most accessible and affordable, especially for low-income households.

 

The article concludes with a call to action for Caribbean governments to reduce the regional food import bill and invest in cultivating an indigenous food supply ecosystem that enables trade of local produce by:

  • enhancing regional transportation systems to facilitate more strategic cross-border shipping and trade of fresh produce
  • utilizing digital technologies to improve the quality, reliability, and resilience of healthy and locally grown food, and
  • adopting fiscal policies that tax ultra-processed foods and incentivise local production and purchase

Acknowledging the public health challenges that the region faces with NCDs and the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the vulnerability of our food and nutrition systems, Governor Antoine encourages the adoption of an all of society approach to improving the health and sustainability of our people. Governments, private sector, civil society and individuals each have an important role to play in enhancing food and nutrition security as a primary approach to combatting the threat of non-communicable diseases and implementing meaningful long-term solutions for socio-economic transformation and sustainability.

To read the original article click here.

By admin
YouAreSweetEnoughImage
SugarYou're Sweet Enough
March 22, 2021

You’re Sweet Enough Campaign

This World Water Day, Lake Health and Wellbeing, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in St Kitts, has launched a health education campaign encouraging the public to drink more water and reduce their consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).

This 9-month campaign, titled You’re Sweet Enough, is intended to raise awareness of the harmful health effects of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas, fruit drinks, energy drinks and sports drinks, and to encourage everyone to drink water as the healthy alternative.

Due to the very high level of sugar in SSBs, their regular consumption has been linked to weight gain and obesity, and being overweight or obese increases a person’s risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.

Research has shown that 45% of adults and 26% of children in St Kitts and Nevis are obese, and that this is contributing to the high rate of NCDs in the Federation. Sadly, data shows that NCDs contribute to 83% of deaths in St Kitts and Nevis.

By reducing SSB consumption, we can reduce a major source of sugar in diets and this can lead to a reduction in NCD risk and related death and disability.

The campaign will use social media, billboards, music, videos, animation, a campaign website and info-session events to provide information across St Kitts and Nevis. Through these platforms, Lake Health and Wellbeing will be urging people to think before they drink, consider the amount of sugar in beverages and opt for water instead.

Abi Begho, Director at Lake Health and Wellbeing, stated, “Generally speaking, when we think about a healthy diet, there is a focus on healthy eating, which is of course essential, but it is also important to drink healthily too. Reducing our consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is one way to combat the high rates of obesity in St Kitts and Nevis, which is a leading risk factor for developing NCDs.”

Whilst Dr Marissa Carty, the NCD Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, added:

“The scientific, medical, and public health communities all agree that the negative effects of sugar-sweetened beverages on weight gain, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers are of great concern. The Ministry of Health recognizes this concern and is in the process of developing a sugar-sweetened beverage policy that will include interventions to reduce the consumption of SSBs in the Federation. Meanwhile, we are encouraging the general public to ‘Rethink Your Drink’ by paying close attention to the sugar content in the drinks you consume by actively reading the nutrition labels and drinking more water.”

You can view and share some of our campaign material below.

Campaign Jingle

The Dangers of Sweet Beverages

Take Care of This Temple

By admin
Survey
DietYou're Sweet Enough
March 8, 2021

Beverage Survey

If you live in St Kitts and Nevis and are over the age of 18, we would love to hear from you! We’re conducting a beverage survey and would be so grateful if you would complete the survey, it will just take about five minutes.

The purpose of this survey is to gain your honest opinion on specific health issues and to understand what beverages you drink and how often you consume them. Your answers will help us as we develop a new project on beverage consumption. The final data or report will speak to national views and opinions and at no point will participants be identified.

The survey will ask about how concerned you are about non-communicable disease (NCDs), your thoughts on different approaches to tackle NCDs, your experience with NCDs and how often you drink certain beverages.

Once you complete the survey, you can enter a raffle competition and get the chance to win some great prizes.

You can complete the survey below and if you have any questions or would like any clarifications, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. You can either leave a comment below in the comments section or you can send us an email

By admin
Healthy Choices
Diet
February 14, 2021

We Receive a Grant from the GHAI

We are absolutely delighted to have recently received a grant from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) to support our efforts to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in St Kitts and Nevis.

NCDs are a major challenge in St Kitts and Nevis and are the leading cause of mortality, morbidity and hospital admissions. A study conducted by the University of Newcastle and the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported that 54% of adults had at least one chronic illness and the Nevis Island Administration recently reported that 85% of hospital admissions were NCD-related.  Furthermore, 83% of deaths in St Kitts and Nevis are due to NCDs.

Driving the high prevalence of NCDs is obesity.  The 2008 WHO STEPS survey found that 33.5% of 25-64-year olds were overweight and 45% were obese. Also, a PAHO report published in 2012 revealed that 32.5% of secondary school children were overweight and 14.4% were obese.

To prevent high levels of mortality and morbidity due to NCDs, we need to tackle obesity and an important way that we can do this is by ensuring that we create a healthy environment where it is easy to make healthy choices.

This grant will help us advocate for government policies and decisions related to unhealthy food and beverages and implement a media campaign focusing on the harms of unhealthy choices. By doing this we hope to drive the change that is required to reduce the public’s consumption of unhealthy food and beverages and therefore reduce the rate of NCDs.

We are very grateful to the GHAI for their support and look forward to making a difference to the public’s health through this project.

More Information

Over the next few months look out for information on this new project. In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please email info@lakehealthandwellbeing.com

References

Pan American Health Organisation (2012). Health in the American 2012: St Kitts and Nevis [Online]. Available at: https://www.paho.org/salud-en-las-americas-2012/index.php?option=com_docman&view=download&category_slug=hia-2012-country-chapters-22&alias=145-saint-kitts-nevis-145&Itemid=231&lang=en

UNICEF, (2017). Situation Analysis of Children in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis. [Online] Bridgetown: UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area and the Government of St Kitts and Nevis, pp, 12-79. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/easterncaribbean/ECAO_St._Kitts_Sitan_2017.pdf

By admin
Our My Healthy Heroes Badges and Fridge Magnets Are Now Available for Sale
My Healthy Heroes NewsNews
September 6, 2020

Our My Healthy Heroes Badges and Fridge Magnets Are Now Available for Sale

We’re happy to announce that our My Healthy Heroes badges and fridge magnets are now available at Best Way Pharmacy in St Kitts.

These badges and fridges magnets are a great keepsake for children and act as a  reminder for kids of what they should and shouldn’t be eating as part of a healthy diet. We’ve tried to use a bit of humour with these items and hope it’ll put a little smile on children’s faces.

Our My Healthy Heroes program aims to educate and empower children to make healthy choices by tapping into their creativity to highlight the importance of a healthy lifestyle in a fun and engaging way.

At the beginning of the year, we ran a 6-week pilot of our My Healthy Heroes program with fourth-graders from St Kitts. This pilot project aimed to test our resources and characters (Healthy Heroes, Sugary Drinks Assassins and Junk Food Villains) and determine whether our approach would be effective at educating children about healthy eating and more importantly facilitate a change in their behaviour.

One of the items we tested with children during our pilot was our badges, and they were a hit. Children wore the badges to the sessions every week and did their best to win more by answering questions about healthy eating, it was fun.

If you’d like to find out more about our My Healthy Heroes project, you can read about our pilot here.

So, if you’d like a fun trinket for your children or students, then please do visit Best Way Pharmacy in St Kitts (near the cinema) and pick up a badge or fridge magnet. Additionally,  bulk orders are available for health awareness events and for use in the classroom if you’re a teacher. For more information, please email us

Finally, we’re hoping to begin work on the next phase of our project in a couple of months and more information will be made available about this soon.

By admin