Ghanaians are one of the interesting people in the in terms of weight issues. There is a hidden notion that successful and rich people have big waist size over 40 inches and they have a pot belly.
In Ghana, the rubric to measure money and success can be determined by size of one’s pot belly and the bigger ones belly the more money one has for men. For women in Ghana, the rubric to measure money and success can be determined by how fat a woman is and how many clothes she has. I remember that I went to visit my folks in Ghana, summer 07; it is interesting to note that I was then 41 years old, 6’2’’, and weighed 180 pounds.
In America with my weight and height, (Body Mass Index) BMI everybody considers me to be a healthy man, however while in Ghana most people considered me to be poor because I didn’t have a pot belly and I had a waist-line of 34 inches which is perfect by American standards. Some people were wondering if I am sure that I lived in America because I didn’t fit the typical profile of a rich and successful man. I remember when my wife and I got married in 1993; we were the talk of our neighborhood because after several years of marriage, we had gained only a few pounds and some brave friends of ours called my wife and I to find out if we had a financial problem.
Some people are fortunate to have a good metabolism and therefore their digestive system breaks down food quickly than others. At age 35 most of our digestive system begins to slow down and naturally most people begin to gain weight and that is when the health issues start. Fortunately or unfortunately, this is the period of time is a person’s life when he/she begins to hit the prime of live. Promotions begin and others start their political career. “Life begins at forty,” they say is an universal term. Some people begin to get sick since the quest to get a pot belly to satisfy the society as being successful and rich to the detriment of one’s health.
Our blood circulatory system can be simplified as the plumbing system in our homes. Being fat is the clogging of one’s plumbing system and thereby the heart finds it difficult to pump blood through the veins and arteries. This condition is simply termed as high blood pressure (HBP) which is common abbreviated as BP. HBP can be controlled with medication, diet and exercise. Unfortunately, if high blood pressure is not controlled, then a stroke can occur. A stroke is when blood supply is cut off to some parts of the brain. Most heart attacks happen when a clot in the coronary artery blocks the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. Often this leads to an irregular heartbeat which can be termed as arrhythmia - that causes a severe decrease in the pumping function of the heart. The blockage must be treated within a few hours or else it can cause the affected heart muscle to die.
Another heart disease caused by the narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart is Coronary heart disease (CHD). It is interesting to note that some people in the quest to have a pot belly (for men) and fat body (for women), they eat too much without exercising in order to prove to their friends that they are successful and rich.
High Blood Pressure and type 2 diabetes are among the leading causes of death in Ghana. The life expectancy in Ghana is 47-54 years and rather shocking. However, it is not surprising to me any more since many people are proud to be fat. It is sad to note that some people don’t even have their blood pressure checked and then they drop and die. Ghanaians blame the devil for all their problems including health concerns. I remember very well that when I used to live in Ghana, when even a 90 - years old person died we would attribute the cause of death to another old person or another family member. As a nation, I believe that people should be more conscious of our health and this can be only achieved through preventive health care. We need to do a lot of health education and change our philosophy 360 degrees. Westernization and Modernization are good but they have their own unintended consequences. Gone were the days when Chop Bars were common and they have now been replaced with Fast Food Joints. The problem I have with fast food is the high cholesterol that leads to the clogging and narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. We need to reduce the intake of sugar, carbohydrates, fats, alcohol and smoking in order to reduce the incidence of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes which either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells it usually causes problems such as your cells may be starved for energy. Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart. We should change our notion that pot belly and fat waist are signs of prosperity. Let’s exercise at least 30 minutes a day, eat more vegetables and fruits and then decrease the intake of carbohydrates, oils, sugar and salt.
I rest my case.
(Kofi Annor Boye-Doe) and my email address is kofiboyedoe@yahoo.co.uk
