CT the unhealthiest city in SA
Last updated: Thursday, April 08, 2010 Print
Johannesburg is the healthiest city in South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa’s unhealthiest city, contains the most smokers, heaviest drinkers, lowest levels of physical activity and the most overweight residents.
A Discovery Vitality analysis of data collected during a series of wellness days at corporate clients around the country revealed these results. Discovery Vitality in conjunction with the Sport Science Institute of South Africa conducted preliminary research to determine the ranking of the major metropolitan areas in South Africa in terms of health and fitness.
In descending order, the cities were Johannesburg followed by Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town trailing in last position.
“While Capetonians may think the sun, sea and mountain gives them an edge when it comes to leading a healthier lifestyle, our research data indicates that theirs is in fact the unhealthiest major city in South Africa,” says Dr Craig Nossel, Head of Vitality Wellness at Discovery.
Capetonians six months 'older'
The cities’ overall health rating is based on the Vitality Age calculation, which incorporates the lifestyle behaviours (risk factors) of smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, blood pressure, cholesterol, depressive symptoms, body mass index, and blood glucose, of Vitality members resident in these areas.
The analysis indicates that, on average, the Vitality members in Cape Town are six months older than their counterparts in Johannesburg.
Johannesburg residents surpassed Capetonians in all the major health indicators.
“Over 29% of Johannesburg members participate in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity physical activity (the recommended minimum for health benefits) compared to 25.7% in Cape Town,” says Dr Nossel.
“Nearly 12% of Johannesburg members eat the recommended minimum of five fruits and vegetables per day compared to just 9.8% in Cape Town.
“Most surprisingly, only 34.8% of Cape Town members fell within the healthy BMI (Body Mass Index) range of between 18.5 and 25, while 41.7% of Johannesburg members fall within the range.”.
Stats are 'worrying'
“The statistics across all cities are quite worrying. Physical inactivity and obesity are approaching epidemic proportions globally.
“The result is an increased prevalence of chronic diseases, poor quality of life, increased healthcare expenditure and premature death.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), regular physical activity can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, help control weight, contribute to healthy bones, muscles and joints, help relieve the pain of arthritis, and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, amongst many other benefits.
The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Health Day campaign, themed "1 000 cities, 1 000 lives” has called upon cities worldwide to open up their streets for health activities during the week 7 -11 April.
Breakdown of data
- Data used was collected during the course of 2009
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The sample size per City
- Johannesburg - 15 824
- Cape Town - 14 727
- Durban - 8 084
- Pretoria – 7 814
- Port Elizabeth - 1 709
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In support of the World Health Day campaign, Discovery Vitality will be awarding triple Vitality points to members for exercising at Vitality fitness partners or buying HealthyFood™ items from Pick n Pay today, 7 April 2010. - (Press release, Discovery Vitality, Apirl 2010)
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Your Comments
JHB
It may be the healthiest city, but what does the stress of living in JHB do to its inhabitants? Give me CT any day.
Healthier
With the CT being the first to have Meat Free Mondays, we are now on the path of " healthy" recovery.
5 fruit and veg
I am shocked that only 9 - 12% of people eat the recommended 5 veg and fruit. No wonder our health is in the state's it's in.
Stress levels?
Did this survey take stress levels into account?
No cities
Cities are grim and stressful places. I have moved to a small town and it's done me the world of good. I know not everyone can do that, though.
Limpopo is the sickest
It's just not possible that CT is the unhealthiest city. The Western Cape has the most well functioning public health services in South Africa. In the Limpopo province, however, old banana skins are poluting the water supply. That's why their so fat.
Happier
We are a touch heavier because we are a touch happier... less traffic jams, less hi-jackings, less burglaries... we still have some service delivery... and man, we have a mountain, two oceans... not to mention wine.... good food.... and we hear Afrikaans on a daily basis and we do not take offence to it!!
Un-accurate
A lot of Capetonians do not belong to gyms, but do train regularly. Where ever you go in CT you will see people running, cycling etc...
I don't think the survey is very accurate. I for one was not asked...
Not the whole picture
The Discovery study is interesting, but it doesn't take environmental factors such as air pollution into account. All our big cities are pretty polluted (including CT, which has a brown haze it was relatively free of 20 years ago), but I think there are areas like South Durban and large parts of Gauteng that would give Cape Town a run for its money! Environmental pollution has a significant impact on health.
North=unhappy
There seems to be a band of unhappiness across Gauteng and the Northwest - wonder why?
CT tops again!
Once again CT has beaten the rest of the Country............!
To toughy
Have you seen what the pollution looks like in those parts? I am not surprised that where there's yellow smoke everywhere, people are depressed.
Pakkie blink gesig
Kyk hie!!dis alle lanies vannie plain en die flats wat aan hul pakkie blink gesiggies (KFC) smul wat die cause is vir die overweight issues inni kaap
surprise surprise
Guess what, I am not surprise at all. All I see around me are fat people and they're look awfull and one can actually see their discomfort in their own behaviour but they are too lazy too exercise and hulle is uitgevreet.
Most of the unhealthy people of course live on the cape flats. What the f$#%^ck do they know about a healthy lifestyle. To them it' s about survival. A full belly and worry about the next meal. There's reason for all this and won't change for the next 100 years.
Epidemic next.
KAPIES WIL NET VRIET EN SUIP
I am really not surprise. Whenever I go back than it is, hey ko os mak 'n dop en a tjop. Yo hulle kannie wag vir die Vaalies nie, want os bring die goud in osse lang kar boat.
Serious now: CT is the unhealthiest city, oh yes and the unsafest place to raise children.
O' I am still a Stormer supporter. They have no fat.
Discovery questionaires are misleading
Firstly the stats are only for Discovery members. Secondly the surveys are ambiguous i.e. what is a portion of fruit (a glass of fruit juice counts) and how much exercise you do (days and hours and multiple which does not consider hiking for 8 hours on the Mountain on the weekend). If the data is incorrect the results never will be!
Hiking is not exercise
Vitality does not recognize hiking / mountaineering as physical activity. Long-distance multi-day backpacking involving climbs of 1000meter and more whilst carrying a 20kg backpack counts for nothing as far as Vitality is concerned.
So yes, while Capetonians enjoy their mountains, Vitality is spending their time creating skewed, meaningless stats.
The large amount of hikers I see on Table Mountain every time I hike there must be my gym-starved brain failing.
Unhealthy CT
I'd rather be a little unhealthy as the survey says, and live in glorious Cape Town than to live in the rest of the joke they call South Africa.
Skewed research
There are lies, damned lies, and statistics. All this survey proves is that Mark Twain was right. I have lived in Cape Town, Durban and Jo'burg (I'm very involved in health activities) and Cape Town has by far the most active lifestyle of all three cities. Certain segments of the population might fit your profile, but more in-depth research will prove that coastal cities breed a far healthier environment and lifestyle.
Rubbish
That is absolute rubbish! There isnothing more to do in JHB hence everyone hits the gyms...CT you have a lot of fresh sea air and there is no problem going outdoors..get your facts right. CT is healthier than JHB by far! Just becasue they dont go to gym ....doesnt mean they dont exercise...skewed
Touchy
You Capies are a touchy bunch hey
same old same old
esp the cape town chicks are fat and lazy
Stop criticizing
This is a survey! Stop questioning the " environmental factors" and other variables. Listen to the message about help trends and try to improve your health and those around you!
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