Skipping meals could lead to chronic illnesses

By Joyce Gathu

Although it is recommended that one eats more food in the morning and less food in the evening, most people are more concerned with beating the traffic jam and getting to work on time than observing a healthy dietary regime.

This means that most people start the day on the wrong foot with low sugar levels that leads to one feeling fatigued.

Take an example of Helen Wanjiru. When she wakes up in the morning, eating a balanced breakfast is usually the last thing on her mind. Often she eats what is available and even then, a little of it.

She says, "I usually don’t have appetite in the morning and I often eat a small piece of ugali with tea. I then proceed to my other chores and skip lunch as am too overwhelmed by chores. But in the evening, I make up for it with a large piece of ugali and sukumawiki or meat."

Unknowingly to the mother of two, her routine could land her in serious trouble.

Research has shown that when there is more consumption of food in the evening, the body is busy digesting food while it should be rejuvenating. For instance, it should be attending to damaged cells by restoring their function instead of digesting food. Therefore, one consequently wakes up feeling fatigued.

If this habit is maintained, it consequently leads to chronic fatigue.

These are some of the habits that are putting people at risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases. These diseases share common risk factors, such as tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.

The prevalence of NCDs has been on the rise and health experts are concerned that if it is not contained, its impact may soon far surpass the devastating impact that communicable diseases have.

Unfortunately, Wanjiru is not alone. "It takes me about two hours in the morning to get to school due to the heavy traffic jam. I, therefore, shower and dress in the shortest time possible and leave the house without breakfast," explains Anita Kamau a Law student at University of Nairobi, Parklands.

Just like Wanjiru and Kamau, many Kenyans ignore breakfast to get to work on time. But, in the evening they stuff themselves with foods that are neither balanced and are packed with calories.

Kenyan health experts are now raising a red flag over the rise of unhealthy lifestyle the public is leading, thus increasing the prevalence NCDs.

"Lifestyle includes how people eat, how they move, working hours and the time they go to sleep." In the olden days, people ate small portions of food but in the recent past, people are eating large portions of everything. Eating more makes people gain weight and all this increases the risk of getting health complications," explains Alice Ndong’, Nutrition and Dietetic Consultant at the Xenihealth Nutrition Clinic.

Ndong’, however, cautions that at times, eating more does not necessarily mean adding more weight.

She points out that there are those who will eat foods high in sugar, fat and salt and will not add weight but that does not mean that they have a clean bill of health.

A person might be lean but still suffer from a myriad of healthcomplications such as heart problems.

She further explains that it is now not uncommon to find young people battling heart condition, high blood pressure and a myriad of other NCDs.

Ndong’ advises people to consume more natural foods. "This are foods grown naturally, are low in fats and salt as opposed to the more popular processed foods, which are high in sugar, salt and fats thus predisposing people to health complications."

She further urges parents not to expose their children to foods high in fat, salt and sugar.

In relation to the prevalence of NCDs trends between men and women, Ndong’ explains, "Women have a higher risk of getting cardiovascular diseases at a younger age. For instance, teenage girls are more likely to be obese compared to boys who tend to be more active at this age."

However, she explains that there is a shift when they get into there 20s.

"Girls are more conscious of how they look and work towards shedding of excessive weight as compared to their male counterparts. This trend continues into there 30s."

Consequently, the prevalence of NCDs among men and women is not significantly different because both genders tend to lead a similar lifestyle.

Ndong,’ therefore, advises people to eat a balanced diet, to exercise more regularly and to avoid eating late into the night, as is the custom with many people.