WESTERN BUREAU:

Medical practitioners are raising concerns about the alarming figures which show that more young people in Jamaica are diabetic because of obesity and physical inactivity.

In an address at the University Diabetes Outreach Programme's (UDOP) 14th international diabetes conference at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort in Montego Bay yesterday, Dr Ernest Madu, in a report, said that 19 per cent of the adolescent population in Jamaica was considered obese, most of whom suffer from Type Two diabetes.

He added that only "Children tend to have Type One diabetes, but if you are a child and you are overweight, your chances of having Type Two diabetes is significantly increased. This shows that we in the Caribbean are not insulated from the negative health consequences."

Dr Madu urged parents to foster healthy nutritional practices in the lives of their children and increase their capacity to engage in physical activities.

"Give the children proper food, avoid fast foods and eat more natural foods. Get them (children) to participate in sports and other physical activities, keep the weight down," he urged.

The medical practitioner noted that Government needs to improve its role in promoting healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices through health policies and investing in physical education programmes in schools.