Barbados health chiefs battling obesity crisis

Barbados has a health crisis because so many of its citizens are contracting non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through poor diets and sedentary lifestyles. It is the leading cause of death in Barbados.

According to the Global Food Research Program, NCDs accounted for 83% of all deaths in 2016. The primary reason for this is the high consumption rate of sugary drinks. Diseases such as obesity and diabetes are rising alarmingly in Barbados.

However, it is taking steps to fight against the prevalence of NCDs. In 2015, Barbados implemented a 10% tax on sugary drinks, which increased to 20% in 2022. It also passed the National School Nutrition Policy, which improved the food quality in Barbadian schools, added measures relating to proper physical activity for students and promoted community health.

In 2023, an estimated 6.9% of Barbadians aged 15 and older used tobacco and 67.2% of people in this age group were either overweight or obese. Nearly 43% of the population reported insufficient physical activity. About 34.6% of Barbadian women and 17.1% of Barbadian men were overweight or obese.