Janet Ogundepo
Nutritionists have backed the call by the Road Safety Corps for the adoption of bicycles as a mode of transportation in Nigeria, cting the importance of physical activities in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The nutrition experts said the move would reduce the alarming rate of obesity among Nigerians which had been identified by physicians as a risk factor for diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases
They noted that the physical activity involved in pedaling the bicycle would help burn body fat and improve blood flow and lung health.
The nutritionists further decried the rising rate of obesity in the country, which had a prevalence rate of 11.6 per cent and 23 per cent.
According to the World Health Organisation, obesity is abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that poses a health risk to the individual.
It notes that a body mass index of over 25 is considered overweight and over 30 is obese.
The WHO reports that the rate of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents between the ages of five and 19 increased from two to nine per cent between 1990 and 2022 while that of adults doubled from seven to 16 per cent.
The agency further noted that obesity was a double burden of malnutrition, stating that more people are obese than underweight.
In what seems to be a renewed advocacy towards the adoption of bicycles by Nigerians, the FRSC recently suggested a transition to the use of bicycles for transportation.
In 2023, the Federal Government stated that it was considering the use of bicycles as an alternative means of commuting.
In 2019, the FG and FRSC also mentioned the transition to bicycles.
However, the FRSC’s recent comment came with several knocks and kudos by netizens with some calling for an upgrade in road traffic rules to ensure the safety of the cyclists.
In separate interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, the nutritionists welcomed talks of introducing bicycles as a means of transportation in the country, expressing hope for a reduction in obesity rates.
Providing figures for the obesity rate in Nigeria, a Registered Dietician-Nutritionist, Olusola Malomo, stated that in 2020, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was 11.6 per cent, noting that the rate was higher in women than in men.
“The prevalence of obesity in women is estimated to be 23.0 per cent. The prevalence of obesity in men is estimated to be 10.9 per cent.
“The prevalence of obesity is higher in urban areas than in rural areas. In urban areas it is estimated to be 14.4 per cent and in rural areas, 12.1 per cent,” he said.
Malomo decried the rising rate of obesity among urban dwellers, stating that urbanisation, unhealthy lifestyles, consumption of highly processed diets, and demographic changes were factors contributing to the obesity epidemic.
Speaking further, the dietician-nutritionist stated that there was an increase in overweight and obesity.
“Obesity is gradually increasing due to what is called nutrition transition, which is a change in food patterns and habits. A change from traditional food to highly dense nutrition food now, coupled with an increase in sedentary lifestyle and inactivity. Either time spent in traffic or in doing one activity or the other that is not related to activity,” he said.
He further said that the introduction of bicycles in terms of the promotion of physical activity was a welcome development.
The nutritionist, however, noted that obesity was largely caused by inappropriate diet, poor physical activity, and either metabolic or genetic conditions.
“Increasing physical activity can help reduce obesity so riding bicycles could help reduce it in a way but not exclusively.
“If cycling is incorporated as a recreational activity within one’s estate and locality, it is good. But when we are looking at safety, I would not see riding bicycles to work considering the state of the road and heavy traffic as seen in megacities. But in rural areas, it is fine but urban cities might have the challenge of riding bicycles on the road,” Malomo said.
Also, a Public Health and Nutrition Specialist, James Oloyede, asserted that a healthy lifestyle was dependent on the quality of food consumed and the lifestyle adopted.
He decried the increasing rise in overweight and obese individuals in the society.
Explaining further, Oloyede said, “An individual is said to be overweight when his body mass index is up to or more than 25 and someone is obese when the BMI is more than 30. Being overweight if not controlled can lead to obesity.
“Obesity carries the health, economic, physiological implications and that is why an individual needs to watch what they eat so that it wouldn’t progress to obesity.”
He stated that obesity increases the risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol, consequently leading to heart diseases among other health challenges.
Oloyede, Director of the Department of Nutrition Services and Health Education, Ogun Primary Health Care Development Board, noted the prevalence rate of obesity in Nigeria between 16 to 23 per cent.
He noted that if a substantial number of the population was obese, it increased the burden and cost of healthcare.
Oloyede stated that bicycling could reduce the weight of overweight persons and improve the health of an individual.
“We cannot afford a growing population that is obese on top of the challenges we are grappling with in the health sector.
“Riding a bicycle is a good way of improving cardiovascular health, this comprises the heart and lung health of an individual. In a population where riding a bicycle is predominant, it has been linked to boosting both heart and lung health. It has been linked to improving blood flow, building muscle strength, and lowering stress levels.
“Peddling itself, when riding a bicycle, helps to burn fat, hence it has the potential to cause weight loss or reduce the weight of an individual who is already overweight. Biking can help reduce body fat,” Oloyede said.
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