FAQs
What is National Nutrition Week?
National Nutrition Week (NNW) started in the 1990s after the National Department of Health was approached by the Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA). It was agreed that it is important for nutrition messages to be included in the department’s Health Awareness Calendar.
What is the theme of this year’s nutrition week and why?
The theme for this year is: Eat right for a better life!
“Eat Right for a Better Life” highlights how eating nutritious food can help everyone feel better, live healthier, and achieve their full potential.
What should you consider when using BMI for children and adolescents?
The concerns linked to the use of BMI in adults are equally applicable to children and adolescents. Additionally, factors such as height and the stage of sexual development also play a significant role in shaping the association between BMI and body fat in children. As a result, a child’s BMI may exhibit substantial variations based on their level of body fat
A child under five years, whose weight-for-length/height as indicated on the Road-to-Health Booklet, is above two standard deviations (SD) is considered to be overweight. If the weight-for-length/height is above three SD, the child is considered to be obese. A child between five and 19 years, whose BMI-for-age is above one SD is overweight and if the weight-for-age is above two SD, the child is obese. The World Health Organization (WHO) has charts that can be used for BMI screening.
What are the objectives of this year’s nutrition week?
- To increase knowledge among adults, school children and caregivers about the types of foods that can promote physical and mental health and wellbeing.
- To increase knowledge among communities and caregivers of the types of food and feeding practices that are necessary for optimal growth and development of infants and young children.
- To increase awareness of the importance of the food environment in making nutritious food available, accessible and affordable for all and how individuals can contribute to improving it.
- To increase consumption of nutritious food options that enable optimal health and contribute to the prevention of obesity and NCDs.
This slogan was chosen specifically for its potential to highlight the link between having nutritious food options and its link to wellbeing and health. The messaging further unpacks the specific details of what it means to eat right and how the food environment plays a role in enabling such options to be available.
Note: The food environment includes all the places we access food, the types of food available and their nutritional quality, the price and affordability of different foods and diets, and the way food is marketed to us, including through ads, promotions and information on food packages. It also includes the production of food.
