Live Well Challenge zeroes in on lifestyle diseases
31 October 2018
The City of Cape Town’s Social Services Directorate launched its ‘Live Well’ Challenge today.
The campaign is an initiative that aims to get residents to participate in an eight-week programme that will teach them about healthy eating and exercise.
A healthy diet and exercise are two key factors in preventing the onset of, or managing, chronic lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Globally, these diseases cause an estimated 41 million deaths every year. In the Western Cape, diabetes is the number one cause of premature death in women.
According to the World Health Organisation, the rise in the number of cases of lifestyle disease is directly related to physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol.
‘We live in a world where junk food is the go-to for many people. There is also the perception that healthy food is financially out of reach for most people. With regard to exercise, many people are not engaged in any type of physical activity.
‘The “Live Well” challenge aims to change perceptions and attitudes and get people on the right track. Fad diets are a no-no and it’s not about cutting starch and carbs, but rather about knowing how much to have of which food group. The programme will teach people what a healthy food plate looks like, how to incorporate exercise into your daily routine and also how to do biometric assessments so participants can monitor their progress,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the four departments within the City’s Social Services Directorate.
‘Our recreation centres already run a host of programmes to promote exercise. Our clinics conduct education, awareness and treatment programmes for lifestyle diseases. Our libraries stock reading materials on these issues and staff at these facilities are able to provide information and advice too. The Social Development and Early Childhood Development Department champions worthy causes like this one by channelling community members to the opportunities available. The Live Well challenge brings all of these elements together to show that the tools for a healthy lifestyle are available and within reach of everyone,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Area East, Councillor Anda Ntsodo.
The Live Well Challenge consists of eight sessions, and will be held on a weekly basis at a community hall in the areas where the initiative will be rolled out.
Each session is structured as follows:
• 30-minute health education session followed by a brief group discussion
• Biometric assessment (weight, blood, glucose level, etc.) to let participants monitor their progress
• 30-minute physical exercise session
The programme is run consecutively, allowing participants to join at any time and still complete all eight health education sessions. On completion of the health education sessions, participants are encouraged to continue with the weekly exercise class.
Some of the key aspects of the programme are outlined here: /media/e1alejoz/the-live-well-challenge.pdf
The Live Well Challenge started in Nomzamo in Strand on 11 October 2018. In the coming months, seven other sites will be launched and residents are encouraged to watch their local community newspapers or find out from their local clinic whether their area is included in the pilot project.
‘Ultimately, we want to roll out the programme throughout the city, but it is important to start the conversation and clear the clutter around what constitutes healthy eating and sufficient exercise. Ideally, individuals or groups should aim to do at least half an hour of exercise three to five times a week, but it is a goal that can be achieved and surpassed over time. It is difficult to change existing habits and so I encourage families, friends and communities to get together and take this challenge head on. Let it become a way of life and let’s work towards reducing Cape Town’s lifestyle disease burden,’ added Alderman Smith.
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