24 Jan 2021

Parents have been called upon to teach their children the benefits of exercise and eating healthy.

Speaking in a COVID-19 press briefing on Ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle in Gaborone recently, a fitness trainer at Energy Cotonoli, Mr Daniel Moeng said obesity was on the rise because children did not like eating healthy food such as fruits, vegetables and drinking water.

Mr Moeng blamed parents for not doing enough to educate their children about healthy living.

He indicated that many times parents buy their children fast food to demonstrate their love for them, saying, such children would suffer the consequences.

He therefore encouraged parents to be role models for their children, adding ‘If you eat healthy, the children would follow suit, and if you exercise, they would also exercise’.

Sharing the same sentiments was Ms Keitumetse Makuku of Bonatla Wellness Solutions, who said as Batswana are taking stronger measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, they should also include proper nutrition, hydration and exercise.

Ms Makuku said people who ate a well-balanced diet tended to be healthier, with stronger immune systems and were at lower risk of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases.

She encouraged Batswana to eat balanced nutritious meals to boost their immune systems, which she said could also help in the fight against coronavirus.

She also advised people not to overcook vegetables as that led to the loss of important nutrients.

Ms Makuku also stressed the importance of drinking plenty of water, saying more than two litres per day was recommended, depending on the body weight.

She further advised people to limit their intake of soft drinks or sodas and other drinks that were high in sugar and consuming sweetened beverages during or after meals, stressing ‘water remains the best choice’. ENDS