Video: ‘Eat Well Bermuda’ Launched

Minister of Health Zane Desilva hosted a press conference this morning [Mar.14], to launch the Bermuda Dietary Guidelines.

Minister Desilva said, “It gives me great pleasure to be here today to launch Eat Well Bermuda: Bermuda’s Daily Dietary Guidelines. Thanks must go to the Department of Health, the Bermuda Hospitals Board and the Bermuda Dietitians Association who have partnered together to develop these guidelines.

“The goal of the Bermuda Dietary Guidelines is to increase knowledge of the healthy options that exist and can be easily incorporated into a healthier lifestyle for all Bermudians ages two years and older. The guidelines are a general visual representation of the variety and proportion of food needed to maintain health.”

“The guidelines also serve as the basis for nutrition messages and consumer materials developed by nutrition educators and health professionals for both the general public and specific audiences.

“You may ask why it is necessary for Bermuda to have its own guidelines… First and foremost, it is because Bermuda is a unique population. According to the Health Survey for Adults in Bermuda 2011:

• 67% of adults are overweight or obese;
• 11% reported having diabetes;
• 37% reported hypertension or high blood pressure;
• 34% reported high cholesterol;
• and 53% reported moderate physical activity three time a week.

“All of these factors are influenced by lifestyle-related behaviors,” said the Minister.

Public Health Nutritionist at the Department of Health Melanie Furbert, President of the Bermuda Dieticians Association and Clinical Dietician for the Bermuda Hospitals Board Tony Ward and the Minister of Health are pictured next to the EatWell Plate:

Minister Desilva continued on to say, “Poor diet and physical inactivity are linked to major causes of illness and death. Furthermore, it is clear that healthy eating patterns and regular physical activity are essential for normal growth and development and for reducing risk of chronic diseases. To correct these problems, many Bermudians must make significant changes in their eating habits and lifestyles.

“These guidelines are by no means a ‘prescription’ for chronic diseases… however chronic diseases can be prevented by adopting these healthy eating guidelines within a healthy lifestyle which includes exercising regularly and drinking water frequently.

“In Bermuda fruit and vegetable consumption is staggeringly low. A 2011 Omnibus Survey revealed that only 8% of respondents reported consuming five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Furthermore, the Household Expenditure Survey 2004 found that convenience foods make up 40% of the overall food budget. These foods are usually loaded with salt, sugar and fat.

“The Bermuda Dietary Guidelines promotes increased percentages of fruit and vegetable consumption per day.

“Along with the Bermuda Dietary Guidelines, the EatWell Plate was also developed. The plate was produced to help achieve the principles of the guidelines. It is a recommendation for each meal based on your plate size. It should be noted that plate size is dependent on your age and gender and gives only a helpful snapshot of what your plate should look like for meals.

“Members of the Bermuda Dietitians Association were instrumental in the development of the guidelines and we wish to thank them for their hard work and collaborative efforts.

“In closing, we are now happy to have these tools which enable us to speak as one voice when it comes to choosing a healthy eating pattern,” concluded the Health Minister.

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