PM Douglas calls for daily exercise to reduce overweight

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 3RD 2008 (CUOPM)   - With more than 70 percent of the St. Kitts and Nevis population overweight, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has called on residents to exercise daily.

Dr. Douglas hopes his monthly walk through the constituency will lead to daily exercise by residents throughout the twin-island Federation.

Constituents of all ages – children, youth, middle-age and senior citizens joined Prime Minister Douglas, the Parliamentary Representative for the walk from Saddlers to the Island Purified Water Parking Lot in Newtown Ground Saturday morning.

The group was led into a five-minute warm up exercise on the Saddlers lawn by Mr. Earl Clarke.

“What was exceptionally good about it is the enthusiasm with which persons took the exercise. 

There is no question in my mind that our people are more conscious now about their health.
 
They are conscious about the need to keep fit, conscious about wellness, especially in light of some of the recent revelations that we have had from a study that was conducted by the Ministry of Health on the non-commendable diseases,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said the study indicated that 70 percent of the St. Kitts and Nevis population might be over-weight and so this is a clear indication that the exercise and the wellness initiative is important.

The wellness walk takes place on the first Monday of each month. Other Ministers of Government have organised monthly walks in their respective constituencies.

At the end of the walk, participants, whose ages ranged from 4 years to late 70's, enjoyed a light breakfast comprising of bananas, bush tea, fruit juice, sandwiches and salad.