Load shedding fuelling fast food consumption, warns expert
The prolonged period of load shedding has forced many South Africans into unhealthy eating habits, according to the Tiger Brands Foundation.
The foundation says the lack of reliable electricity sees many more households eating fast food - increasing the risk to people’s health.
Operations manager Karl Muller says the continued blackouts is fuelling a rise in food wastage, meaning more households are reluctant to buy fresh food.
“With load shedding having become a crushing everyday reality for South Africans over the past few weeks, it is not only the country’s economy that is being adversely affected, but people’s health is also at risk as prolonged rolling blackouts are altering diets and eating patterns.
“The accessibility of fast food together with load shedding is putting peoples’ life at risk, as obesity poses a wide range of problems including being associated with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
“Fast-food is generally unhealthy, being calory-rich and lacking nutrition. Regular consumption of fast-food has been linked to various ailments and health conditions, including obesity. Studies show that among South African adults, 68% of women and 31% of men are either overweight or obese, based on body mass index,” says Muller.
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