Health Minister’s Nutrition Month Statement

Earlier today [Mar.9] Health Minister Zane DeSilva officially recognized the month of March as ‘Nutrition Month’. Bermuda has celebrated Nutrition Week since the formation of the Bermuda Dietitians Association in the 1980’s, however, Nutrition Month has only been celebrated in Bermuda since 2006.

Minister DeSilva said, “The aims of ‘Nutrition Month’ 2011 are to introduce Bermudians to new Dietary Guidelines, to familiarize residents with the Bermuda Dietitian Association’s new website, and to encourage islanders to focus on nutrition-related issues whether this be at home, work or even at our schools.”

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I am pleased to be with you today to officially recognize the month of March as ‘Nutrition Month’.

For those of you who might not be aware, Bermuda has celebrated Nutrition Week since the formation of the Bermuda Dietitians Association in the 1980’s.

However, Nutrition Month, which has been celebrated worldwide since 1980, has only been celebrated in Bermuda since 2006.

The aims of ‘Nutrition Month’ 2011 are to introduce Bermudians to new Dietary Guidelines, to familiarize residents with the Bermuda Dietitian Association’s new website, and to encourage islanders to focus on nutrition-related issues whether this be at home, work or even at our schools.

The new Dietary Guidelines are currently being developed by the Bermuda Dietitians Association during a time of increasing concern about the health of Bermuda’s population.

Bermuda is experiencing an epidemic of overweight and obese citizens and this affects all ages.

Poor diet and insufficient physical activity is associated with several major illnesses on the island, the most notable of which are diabetes and its attendant and congestive heart failure both of which can ultimate lead to death.

In fact, according to the Well Bermuda National Health Promotion Strategy:

• 63% of adults in Bermuda are above a normal body weight for their height
• 36% of 5-10 year olds are overweight or obese
• …and 25% of 11-17 year olds are overweight or obese

To correct this problem, Bermudians must make significant changes to their eating habits and lifestyles.

Therefore the Public Health Nutritionists and the KEMH Dietitians have partnered to develop guidelines specific for, relevant to, and reflective of the Bermudian population…giving us the new ’Bermuda Dietary Guidelines’.

These guidelines recognize that all sectors of our community including individuals, families, educators, health professionals, businesses and policy makers contribute to the nutritional environments in which we live.

I am also pleased to announce that the Bermuda Dietitians Association will launch a new website during Nutrition Month at www. eatwellbermuda.org where, in addition to the guidelines, the public will be able to find:

• Healthy recipes
• A Body Mass Calculator
• A listing of Registered Dietitians
• and career guidance links for students who wish to attend accredited dietetic schools.

I would urge all residents to visit this new site and to cast their vote on the new format for Bermudas’ Healthy Eating Guidelines.

In concluding, I would like to emphasize that we all have a role to play in reshaping our environment so that healthy eating is easy, understood and accessible to everyone.

Thank You.

#Health

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