Quote Originally Posted by Irine View Post
What hasn't been mentioned here is the effect fast food has had on the health of the western population. One of the things we marvel about when we go to Jamaica is how, for the most part, the Jamaican population is so fit. This is in part due to the limited access to processed foods and the lovely list of ingredients that go into the preparation of a meal that's hot and ready in a few minutes.
We enjoy waiting for out food in Jamaica because it is real food. It would sadden us greatly if in a couple decades we saw increases in youth obesity, diabetes, and other health issues the Jamaican people as a whole don't experience now. Are the Jamaican authorities teaching anything in the schools about the dietary pitfalls of fast food?
I think that the hazards of Western food hasn't been mentioned here because most folks reading this are from the "Western population". We already know it. The food may be tasty, but certainly not a necessary part of a healthy diet.

Education is key and it is being taught to everyone in Jamaica both in school and out! The government is constantly warning about many of the hallmarks of modern lifestyles that are contributing to the increases in cardiovascular diseases, heart attack and stroke, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Diet as well as less strenuous activity are the main culprits, more hallmarks of our modern lifestyles. But as in the rest of the Western world, the teachings often fall on deaf ears.

Please note that this trend has been happening already for many decades. This is not a "fast food" issue, although that doesn't help any, but more having to do with the every day diet. The average Jamaican has fast food on special occasions and not as an everyday thing.

I have lost track of people I have known here who have died from strokes and diabetes, and they grew up without fast food.

For those interested, here is more from the Jamaica Information Service:

https://jis.gov.jm/ncds-leading-caus...th-in-jamaica/