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Santo Domingo.- Overweight Dominicans are now 68.8% of the population and the prevalence of diabetes grew from 10 to 15.5 percent, according to research on the Factors of Cardiovascular Risk and Metabolic Syndrome (EFRICARD II) disclosed Sunday.

The preliminary report presented yesterday in the 16th Dominican Endocrinology Congress, diabetes and hypertension affect more than 50 percent of the Dominican population, a figure the specialists say is cause for concern.

Dominican Endocrinology Society president Dr. Felix Escaño said the research reveals that obesity and overweight among Dominicans have jumped to worrisome levels. “It’s estimated that we currently have a 15.5% prevalence of diabetes, when only 10% was reported until some years ago, and what’s most serious is overweight and obesity which trigger insulin resistance, diabetes and hypertension that now exceeds 50% among Dominicans, regardless of social and/or economic class.”

He warned the authorities, the medical family, institutions and the specialized medical societies to prepare national strategies to confront the epidemic, noting that the 68.8% of overweight Dominicans compete with similar figures in other Latin American countries such as Mexico and Brazil.

He said the Dominican Endocrinology Society, the Dominican Cardiology Society, the Cardiology Institute and the National Health Insurance (SENASA) support the EFRICARD II preliminary data.

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COMMENTS
38 comment(s)
Written by: RobertoJose, 23 May 2011 10:21 AM
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
only the government officials AND their merry little helpers
Written by: dreadlocks, 23 May 2011 10:49 AM
From: United States
i made mention of this in a posting some time back, and tomito gave me a geography lesson about the difference between Dominica and the Dominican Republic.
Written by: corruptman, 23 May 2011 11:22 AM
From: United States
When you have no education, you have no idea how amny calories a gram of fat has versus a gram of protein or carbohydrate. When you have no money, you each whatever shit is put in frontt of you, if white rice, ok, if fried, ok, if lard, ok. The DR has both, uneducated people, and poor people, I am surpised the obseity rate is so low; oh wait I forgot, over 40% of the people are so poor they cannot even each shit! And you wonder why tourists do not want to come here, that citizens are trying to escape as if this was Vietnam in 1974, why no investments are being made, that unemployment is neaering Spain's levels,why crime is at unpreccedented levels, why drugs are rampant, and cholera is spreading faster than polio in the 1950's?
Written by: RoyStone, 23 May 2011 11:25 AM
From: Australia
dreadlocks,
Yeah, I also suggested the DR Miss World entrant was not typical, and that many DR women were overweight. I was promptly told I was something like a racist, bigoted foreigner and should go back to Australia, and the DR women had the best bodies in the world.

Written by: colodrm, 23 May 2011 11:26 AM
From: Dominican Republic
corruptman.........................................WELL SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Written by: telemeco, 23 May 2011 11:27 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Monte Plata
Does that have to do with the explosion of Burgen King, McDonald, KFC, Chinese food on top of the greasy Dominican diet.

When was the last time the University graduate nutritionist by the million
Written by: curlando, 23 May 2011 11:29 AM
From: United States, Bronx
My ex-girlfriend in DR would always say "people have to eat more rice to lose weight" and she was going to college to be a doctor.
Written by: RoyStone, 23 May 2011 11:33 AM
From: Australia
corruptman,
I do not know the solution, however I do not think education is it. I know of diabetics that eat and drink themselves to death, after a number of doctors have told them what they are doing.
I think it relates more to attitude. Dominicans are also allergic to exercise - they will ride a motorbike to go just one block, rather than walk.
Written by: RoyStone, 23 May 2011 11:40 AM
From: Australia
While the people are killing themselves with deep-fried take-away food and sugar-filled drinks, they are also killing the rivers with the resultant Styrofoam packaging and PET bottles.
Written by: hellborn25, 23 May 2011 11:43 AM
From: United States, words of wisdom from the nutcracker
yea jus watch the movie super size me, and you will see why dominicans are so fat , in new york city theres 3 mc donalds restaurant in every 4 blocks, in the united states is the advertisers , and stockholders fault , and also to a certain extent the franshised owner fault also , supply and demand in money with the publics ignoranced in there diet. Fast food has been link to diabetes , heart disease , colon cancer, hyperactive behavior in children and is the second leading cause of death next to smoking.
Written by: pleasuretour, 23 May 2011 12:43 PM
From: United States
It's not just the D.R. it's the entire Caribbean basin and it's a direct result of the increase of fat food franchises which were few and far between 25 years ago but are everywhere now. Not just at the low end either. There's a Hooters' and a Hard Rock Cafe on damn near every island. Finding traditional Dominican food in the D.R. requires research now.

The franchises were initially expanded to accommodate the fat gringo's in shorts getting off the planes but once the locals started sharing the same bad habits they were doomed to the same health problems. First guns, then drugs and now this.
Written by: juanb, 23 May 2011 1:29 PM
From: Dominican Republic
That's right pleasuretour:



You are correct. The 4 Hard Rock Restaurants and the 10 McDonald's and the 10 Burger Kings are responsible for 6,000,000 plus overweight Dominicans.

Blame everyone else for our own weaknesses. How typical.
Written by: PuntaCanaMike, 23 May 2011 2:01 PM
From: Dominican Republic
I can say that I have the perfect wife...returned right back to her 106 pounds after the birth of our daughter and looks great!

I can also say that many of the girls who would like to make their living off of men, should consider a change of fashion. It is obvious that fitness is not a priority aside from the 20 minute stretches they deem as a night's exercise. Bellies hanging out....upper frontals with nothing left to keep gravity from taking its toll.

Asses ...ever so broad. And to think...they still have the confidence to "ey pappi" everyone who passes within earshot.

I do not remember this when I first came here.
Written by: planner, 23 May 2011 2:29 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Here is reality - for hypertension, diabetes and insulin resistance the worst things you can eat - salt, fat and simple carbohydrates. AND then not enough exercise. It is a disaster waiting to happen.

WHITE rice is one of the WORST things you can eat for those with diabetes and insulin resistance, then cook it with way too much salt and fat and it is even worse.

It is what they are used to. It is what they can afford. And it is what they think they like. YUCK.

Add to that a prevailing attitude of if its my time its my time and they do nothing to help themselves!

The wealthier can choose to change but they don't because being fat is seen as a symbol that you have enough money to eat and drink what you want! They need to smarten up and lead by example. Or they too will be dead at an early age. Diabetes and hypertension are killers.
Written by: WalterPolo, 23 May 2011 2:48 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Rice with Crisol. Concón. Fritos verdes. Fried fish. Chicharrones. Beer. Refresco rojo. Sugar in the newborn's bottles.

No education= ignorance of basic principles of nutrition.

How many Dominicans know what insulin is?

One-way express ticket to the cemetery.
Written by: JPDTrinity, 23 May 2011 2:57 PM
From: Dominican Republic, I dislike all politicians and their afiliated parties... "I simply say it AS IT IS!!"
WOW, it's so funny. The biggest rice eaters in the world are Asian ppl. They even eat it for breakfast and they are still skinny. It all depends what one accompies food with?

U.S is full of obese ppl too. It's an epidemic created by the world fast food corps. Nothing to do with a specific race or group.

Please take a walk through some American countries and you'll how many fluffly-bluberish individuals you'll come accross with.

So, DR is not the only lard dump.

By the way, I'm not defending the fat lard of the Caribean (DR)!!!

Peace...
Written by: tomito, 23 May 2011 2:59 PM
From: United States
Don't confuse being "overweight" with being "obese". A person that looks normal could be overweight but not obese.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overweight

64% of US population is either obese or overweight, I wonder if these geniouses got their data from their own patients since I doubt DR;s overweight is a bigger problem than the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overweight
Written by: WalterPolo, 23 May 2011 3:09 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
@JPTRINITY

"It all depends what one accompies food with?"

Asians don't add 2 cups of oil to their rice. It's steamed, not dry-fried and boiled as they do here.

Rule of thumb for healthy eating re: food combinations:

Carbs + protein is OK
Fats + protein is OK
Carbs + fats is a definitive no-no.

So rice with oil is bad. The worst of all foods is the french fried potato.

Bon appétit.
Written by: HateitorLOVEIT, 23 May 2011 5:04 PM
From: United States, Washington, DC
So rice with oil is bad. The worst of all foods is the french fried potato!

So tostones and mangu and pollo frito and chicharones and lechon and mofongo are good for you? That's food that should be fed to an NFL lineman......
Written by: venganzaderafael, 23 May 2011 6:14 PM
From: United States
I steam my rice like the Asians THEN add a couple of tbs of olive oil. You should not heat the olive oil as this will convert it to the bad cholesterol. As far as mangu if boiled it is a very healthy dish again depending on what you accompany it with.

Written by: RoyStone, 23 May 2011 8:53 PM
From: Australia
Ohh, there is obesity in other countries? Phew, thank god we are not the only ones!
Yes, rice is the staple diet in many Asian countries too and granted, most of them are not obese, however they eat it in little bows, not huge troughs, and they ride pushbikes not motorbikes. Simple arithmetic - calories in minus calories out is deposited as fat.
Written by: planner, 23 May 2011 9:59 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
They are also not genetically predisposed to diabetes. You cannot make yourself diabetic if you are not genetically programmed for it. BUT you can prevent it.

The Asian races are not predisposed to it on any high level. However both latinos and blacks are predisposed to it on a much higher % basis.

I don't agree this is about education. If it were then why would the USA have such a high rate of obesity and diabetes?????
Written by: WalterPolo, 23 May 2011 10:48 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
@planner

Because they've been misled about what is good and what isn't.

Corn oil is bad for you. HFCS is bad for you.

Bad education is as bad as none.

Written by: guillermone, 23 May 2011 11:58 PM
From: United States
The key is do not feed the bears, otherwise they will stop eating food from its native habitat and prefer human edibles. This sounds like the bears at Yellow Stone National Park. Maybe we should apply the same rule to Dominicans.

Written by: RoyStone, 24 May 2011 12:08 AM
From: Australia
I agree with Planner,
It is just like smokers - they know about cancer, emphysema, etc. but continue regardless.
How can anyone not know that all those fat people eat and drink too much and exercise too little? Bad genes? Corrupt multi-nationals? Pathetic excuses!
If people want to eat and drink themselves to death okay, but don't rubbish the environment in the process. I guess if they don't care how their bodies end up, they care even less about what they do to their country.
Written by: guillermone, 24 May 2011 12:13 AM
From: United States
For you guys who blame Dominican diet as detrimental to ones health, let me tell you something about 20-30 years ago obesity and dietary related illnesses was totally unknown in the DR. It was not until the dawn of American fast foods arrival to our country and the fusion of US influences in our dietary habits, the primary reason behind a negative shift in health statistics of recent years. I was one of the first to cry fowl and totally against the bombardment of American culture to our shores. Today we are begining to see the consequences and it will get even worse if we do not begin to protect the positive aspects of Dominican culture against the invasion of foreign influences.
Written by: RoyStone, 24 May 2011 12:41 AM
From: Australia
guillermone,
Fast food outlets in DR may have come from USA, but the propensity to abuse them is Dominican. It is called laziness with no thought of the consequences.
Who will you blame for the DR lack of exercise (using motorbikes), unwanted pregnancies, crime, corruption and the abuse of women? Which foreign power enforced it on your little republic?
Perhaps "20-30 years ago obesity and dietary related illnesses was totally unknown in the DR" but maybe there was less government subsidy of common rural folk, and less money coming in from relatives working in USA - hence they had to earn or grow what they ate?
McDonalds is in every country of the globe, but not all have an obesity problem. Diet Coke is available in DR but almost everyone prefers sugar. Maccas doesn't care which one you buy.
Written by: watcher48, 24 May 2011 8:17 AM
From: United States, Omnipresence
Long live the "Pansones de mierda!"
Written by: Pepe32, 24 May 2011 10:25 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Los Pitis se quedaron en el numero uno o dos!
Written by: Belial, 24 May 2011 10:40 AM
From: United States, Texas
Fat may not be the main problem.

At the moment, cholera seems to be. Yes, cholera will remove fat, but cholera may have other consequences ... like dying.

A 50% spike in new cholera cases in half a month is as important as fat.

If you don't care about the DRs, think of the effect on tourism.

There is still time.

ooo0

AP – Health officials in the Dominican Republic are reporting hundreds of new cases of cholera as the outbreak spreads through most of the country.

Deputy Health Minister Jose Rodriguez says there have been 1,143 cases of cholera and 14 deaths since the outbreak began in November. The number of new cases reported Monday is up about 50 percent since the middle of May.

The Dominican physicians union says cases have been confirmed in 28 of the country's 32 provinces.

Cholera was detected in the Dominican Republic after an outbreak in neighboring Haiti in October. There have been 266,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths in Haiti.


Written by: richardalberto, 24 May 2011 11:41 AM
From: United States
I just got back and most folks add sugar to EVERYTHING! Even mango juice which is already super sweet. Mangu with a toin of butter to give it flavor, when I add a little olive oil and spices to make it just a good.

Makes sense to eat yuca, guineos verde, batata and other vegies boiled and served with some salt-free bacalao. This affinity with sugar and grease is NUTS!

Funny, I had to walk 5 blocks and it was recommended that I catch a public taxi, lol, when I walk from mid-town Manhattan to 14th street with ease. It's not just DR, when I went to Puerto Rico, the same thing. Chunky, chunky. It's more prevalent in women in my observation.

The crazy part is that, they don't seem to notice.
Written by: dreadlocks, 24 May 2011 8:18 PM
From: United States
richardalberto states

The crazy part is that, they don't seem to notice.


yes, they do. they just live in a mindset that says that if you are plump, it means you are being well fed. they hold to the belief that zoftig women are more sexy. more bounce to the ounce.
Written by: richardalberto, 25 May 2011 9:02 AM
From: United States
It's an issue Caribbean wide not just DR. However, women in DR pride themselves on wearing tight clothes that for the increasing segment no longer look good.

The health factor will have a major weight on the island's economy if not addressed.
Written by: planner, 25 May 2011 9:14 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Richard you are right, it is already a major drain on the economy. This is a broadly spread issue and it becomes a major issue as the population ages. Here many have diabetes that has gone undiagnosed for years. Hypertension is widespread as well.

Not only are many obese they are also malnourished. They are not getting enough fruit, vegetables, minerals and vitamins. IN many cases they don't get enough protein.
Written by: richardalberto, 25 May 2011 9:23 AM
From: United States
Planner, (BTW- Are you the Mambo Dancer?)

You are right about lack of eduction in regards to nutrition. It seems like everyone is cooking recklessly. I've had to tell someone in their OWN house not to add too much sugar to my coffee or juice PLEASE.

It's nuts! The younger women in DR are getting fatter and fatter by the day. Not for nothing, the lower the economic level they are, the more chichones you see.
The wealthier women or women who are better off economically, are starting to separate themselves in terms of attractiveness.
Written by: dreadlocks, 25 May 2011 11:45 AM
From: United States
richardalberto, you are correct when you attribute the problem to a lack of education. look at the states in the north eastern corner of the USA, such as Maine, and Vermont, for example. those states have better educated people, who understand the value of exercise, and eating a proper diet. then, look at places like Mississippi and Tennessee, and see at the lardasses there. there is a common thread....education levels.
Written by: richardalberto, 25 May 2011 2:29 PM
From: United States
I was in Miami 3 weeks ago and went clubbing at a local disco far from South Beach and I swear 90% of the women were heavy or how they say "full figure" or veryveryclose. then I go to Aventura Mall were there is a class/education distinction and the women, I mean;50, 40, 30 year old women were gorgeous.

In New York you can see health conscious people running,walking in Central Park, eating salads for lunch. not feasting on arroz con grandules and pork chops. which btw they'll probably have for dinner as well.

It is my observation as well that it's lack of education and investigating what you consume, reading the labels. knowing the dangers of over consumption of sugar and corn oil. sheez I once told a friend to place the tostones on napkins to absorb the grease and proceeded to look at me like "where did I get that from". did it anyway and threw out two napkins of grease.
Written by: RoyStone, 25 May 2011 10:18 PM
From: Australia
No doubt there is a strong correlation between healthy lifestyle and level of education however I do not think it is direct cause and effect. I believe it is attitude.
The attitude that leads individuals to seek an education is the same attitude that leads them to eat healthy food and exercise regularly. Both take an effort. However the information is freely available for those who care to look. You don’t need to go to an expensive gym to get exercise, and you don’t need an expensive organic food shop to eat healthy. It is not rocket-science. You can argue about the finer details but the basics of good health are common knowledge. However you do need some self-discipline. When most people around you lack this discipline and you are still getting laid then why bother? Those who do have the right attitude, have already moved on and up.
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