For five seconds, close your eyes and imagine you were blind.
Now imagine that was the case for the rest of your life.
Stand on one foot for 10 seconds.
Now imagine doing that for the rest of your life.
The complications of blindness and amputation were the first lessons that 25 children, who had high Body Mass Index, learned when they showed up for day one of the Diabetes Association’s (DATT) Teen Lifestyle Camp at the Preysal Secondary School in Couva Friday.
With those children at risk of developing diabetes due to obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle, the three-day camp is aimed at correcting their choices to not only help them lose weight but to have better health.
DATT president Andrew Dhanoo said a global school health survey showed high levels of obesity among adolescent children. In 2007, one in three secondary school children were overweight and by 2017, this increase to 50 per cent. He said statistics from nutritionists revealed that most of a child's diet comprised white flour, white rice, candies, and fried foods.
“We need to change that and this is what we’re going to teach you all today because we’re focusing on nutrition, exercise and stress management,” Dhanoo said. County Medical Officer of Health Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards said that recent statistics showed that in T&T, 14-15 per cent of the population is living with diabetes; approximately 200,000 people. Furthermore, another 20 per cent of the population may be pre-diabetic.
“We all know someone who is diabetic. These statistics are made up of individuals with whom we regularly interact; our neighbours, our friends and our family members,” Abdool-Richards said.
The camp runs from 9 am-5 pm and caters to children ages 12-17. The students were given a virtual nutrition tour courtesy the South West Regional Health Authority and learned to cook through the T&T Hospitality and Tourism Institute.
Saturday they are expected to visit JTA Supermarket at C3 Centre, Ste Madeleine to purchase supplies for Sunday’s Cook-off with CNC3’s The Morning Brew host Hema Ramkissoon.