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Celebrities encourage BME groups to eat better
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Celebrity chefs and TV personalities are among those encouraging the West African community to support the Change4Life movement, which this week launches its drive to help families in Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) groups eat well, move more and live lon
Change4Life is a society wide movement headed by the Department of Health, which aims to encourage at risk communities to change their attitudes to food and exercise, in an attempt to halt the rising tide of childhood obesity.
Physical activity and a healthy diet are essential to leading a long and healthy life and Change4Life has devised eight easy ways for families to work these into their day. There are suggestions on how to cut back fat, how to get 5 –A–Day and fun ways that children can get their recommended 60 minutes of activity a day.
The campaign kicks off with a series of TV commercials featuring two of Change4Life’s ambassadors and will be aired on Pakistani channels during March.
Pioneer of the ethnic media industry, Femi Okutubo, and Funke Koleosho – celebrity Nigerian chef, award winning author and businesswoman - feature in the commercials and will be sharing simple tips which they have incorporated into their own lives, to help motivate others.
Femi Okutubo hopes to motivate families into increasing their physical activity levels. He said:
“I want to show families that you don’t have to take up a sport to get active – it can be as simple as swapping the car for walking, replacing some of the time children spend watching television with a game of catch in the garden, or even getting family and friends together for a simple game of cricket.”
Research shows that an alarming 90 per cent of children today will grow up with dangerous levels of fats in their bodies if they don’t make a Change4Life.
The West African community is one of the communities at highest risk when it comes to obesity and the associated health risks, including type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.
Radio presenter Bridgitte Tetteh and leading cosmetic dentist Uchenna Okoye, are also amongst the celebrity ambassadors who will be encouraging families to make a Change4Life.
Published: 10 March 2010
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