Reversing Barbados’ NCD crisis warrants more aggressive action, says doctor

By Marlon Madden

One of the island’s leading epidemiology researchers is warning that unless firm actions are taken now Barbados faces an uphill battle reducing incidence of obesity, much less stopping it.

This caution has come from Dr Natasha Sobers, Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, who suggested that the increased tax on sugar-sweetened beverages from 10 to 20 per cent was not enough of a deterrent.

Her comments came against the background of recent announcements by Government to roll out a National School Nutrition Policy and remove trans fatty acids from industrially-produced foods in Barbados in the next two years.

During an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY, Dr Sobers lauded Government’s latest policy decisions, saying they indicated a level of seriousness.

“They are doing the right thing in terms of the National School Nutrition Policy. They did the right thing with the sugar-sweetened beverage tax. That is getting serious. And they did the right thing when it comes to the trans fat they are talking about regulating. Those are the strong regulatory frameworks that are needed from a government in order to change. They are putting these things in place and I applaud them for it,” said Sobers.

However, noting that estimates indicated that obesity was on the increase and there was perhaps only a one per cent chance of Barbados meeting its 2030 target of stopping the increase if it continues on its current trajectory, Dr Sobers is encouraging Government to be more aggressive.

“If we are serious about this and really want to increase our chances, we are going to have policies that support that seriousness – we are going to have front-of-package labelling. It doesn’t happen with one policy. It has to be all of the policies working together, plus education . . . and it also has to be aggressive,” said Sobers.

Reports in recent years have indicated that more than 33 per cent of Barbadian children aged nine to 10 are overweight.

According to the Barbados National Registry 2019 cardiovascular disease report, in 2019 the country registered some 547 cases of myocardial infarction (MI or heart attack), representing a 28 per cent increase from the 2014 to 2016 period. The case fatality rate was about 32 per cent, compared to between three and 12 per cent internationally.

There were 758 strokes recorded for the 2019 review period, representing a steady increase from 631 in 2014. The in-hospital case fatality rate for stroke in 2019 was 37 per cent, up from 28 per cent the prior year.

Sobers told Barbados TODAY it is time that Barbadians recognise the seriousness of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the tremendous burden these were having on families and the country in terms of death, costs and disabilities.

“We are talking about persons who are having strokes when they are