But here ’ s the counter side : While it is a shortterm solution , it does not improve a person ’ s resistance to the virus . Quite the opposite , in fact , because every time government applies a lockdown that restricts movement , and the opportunity to move or exercise , they effectively ‘ steal ’ some fitness and immunity from citizens . And it is our fitness and health that are the best immunity factor in viral protection . This is not simply about runners , it ’ s relevant to every citizen of South Africa . The more we sit and work from home , the more we tend to eat , the greater the weight-gain , and the less capable of basic functional movement we become . And that is why South Africa urgently needs to make major changes to its approach to COVID-19 regulations .
Worst Death Rate in Africa
As of 11 January 2021 , there have been 72,748 deaths in Africa , with 33,163 in South Africa . That ’ s a staggering 45 %, with Egypt second on 8197 deaths ,
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and Morocco third with 7743 . These are the only other countries with over 6000 deaths , and both countries have less than a quarter of the South African deaths . Of the remaining 52 countries , only Tunisia ( 5215 ) and Algeria ( 2807 ) have over 2000 deaths , leaving five countries with death totals between 1000 and 2000 , and 23 countries between 100 and 1000 , and 22 countries with death tolls under 100 .
While the world continues to question why Africa has apparently got off so lightly in this pandemic , we in South Africa need to be asking why we have been so badly hit . One consideration is the fact that the Indigo Wellness Index lists South Africa as the unhealthiest country on the planet ! ( Canada is top of the list , by the way .) This index evaluates countries on the basis of 10 key aspects impacting health :
• Blood pressure ,
• Blood glucose ,
• Obesity ,
• Depression ,
• Happiness ,
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• Alcohol use ,
• Tobacco use ,
• Exercise ,
• Healthy life expectancy ,
• and Government spending on healthcare
In Bad Shape
From being a nation of activity and healthy living , we have dramatically changed over the past four decades . A study of Body Mass Index ( BMI ) shows that 70 % of women and 39 % of men in South Africa have a BMI over 25 , which is the definition of overweight , and we have the highest levels of obesity ( BMI over 30 ) in sub-Sahara Africa . In fact , while 28.3 % of our adults were defined as obese in 2016 , it will be even higher now , with Botswana next in line , but much better off at 18.9 %, and only the top seven countries above 15 %. ( BMI is determined by dividing your weight by your height twice , e . g . 70kg / 1.71m / 1.71m = 23.9 BMI ).
Meanwhile , whilst Sudan ( 22.1 %), Mauritius ( 22.0 %)
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Images : Pexels |