‘Trini women obese’

Dr Isabella Granderson, lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, UWI, has said that more than 50 per cent of Trinidad’s women are obese.

Speaking at the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF) Caricom Food Security Project “End of Project Knowledge Sharing Forum” yesterday at the Hyatt Regency, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, Granderson said, “Fifty-five per cent of Trinidad’s female population is obese and our importation bill is steadily increasing.”

She pointed out however that Trinidadian males were a mere 15 per cent. Granderson further stated that these are the factors that spun the genesis of the project which the objective was to change the alarming issues of obesity and the high importation bill.

Granderson stated the project started after the observation of trends in Caricom agricultural trade in crops and livestock products during the period of 1990 to 2011. She pointed out that a study between 1990—2009 showed that the consumption of calories fats and oils is increasing. She added, “With regard to total calories we are over the recommendation by 17 per cent, staples 13 per cent, fruits and vegetables a deficit, sugars and sweeteners over, and an increase in fats and oils.”

Granderson then stated that, as a result of this we are now faced with the situation of obesity and the non-communicable diseases associated with obesity.

In her presentation Granderson noted that the project included workshops, focus groups, surveys, and experiments. Adding “The project life-span was three and a half years and was conducted in four Caricom states, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and Guyana.”

Three main aspects highlighted in the project were the successes of the school feeding initiative, the introduction of mulatto grass as animal feed and the benefits yielded from drip irrigation for agriculture. Granderson explained that the drip irrigation is a beneficial technological process of water conservation that farmers were introduced to and trained to efficiently use. Within the project, small farmers were targeted.

In a brief interview after her presentation she reiterated that the school feeding programme was a large part of the project. To combat the issue of nutrition there was modification of some of the meals, such as lowering of fat and sodium content.

She said “Two ounces were initially provided. Now three ounces are provided with the inclusion of fruits and pure fruit juice.” She was also committed to continue working the school feeding programme. She recognised the challenges of purchasing fruits with regard to cost, as apples and grapes are cheaper than the local produce, the season of produce and lack of communication between farmers and caterers.

Apart from Granderson, there was a cadre of other presenters, representing University of the West Indies UWI. The second presenter, Nakisha Mark, spoke on agricultural technology and protecting agriculture, noting this can be done through plastic green houses, shade house, tunnel houses among others. Paulette Bynoe, an environmental scientist from Guyana, discussed environmental sustainability, dealing with environmental issues regarding the use of gricultural technology and the use of pesticides.

Hazel Patterson Andrews, another UWI representative, expanded on the research regarding National School Dietary Services in Trinidad and Tobago and emphasised on challenges in obesity and nutrition.

Arlene Saint-Ville and Kristen Lowitt both representatives of McGill University concluded the presentation by highlighting suggested policies from finding throughout the project one major policy being a food procurement policy.

Taken from Trinidad Express Newspapers