The study published by the SA Medical Journal examined the weight, blood pressure, diabetes status and cholesterol levels of 517 teachers at 111 schools in Cape Town and found that 87% of participants were overweight or obese, had high blood pressure, high waist circumference, high cholesterol levels, and high levels of blood glucose.

It also found that many educators had a wrong perception of their actual body size and a lack of awareness about personal health. The findings of this study demonstrated a number of characteristics of educators in the two study areas that may influence their risk for developing lifestyle diseases and their potential as role models for learners.

“It is estimated that lifestyle diseases linked to obesity, such as diabetes, heart attacks, strokes and many cancers, lead to early death or retirement, high absenteeism, and low productivity, costing the country 6.87% of GDP,” said Aparna Kollipara, director of health in the Treasury.“This was expected to rise to 7% in 2017”, she said.

The Dean of Stellenbosch University’s faculty of health sciences, Jimmy Volmink, said: “Obesity and, by extension, the risk of lifestyle diseases, seems to be a particular problem among teachers, nurses and the police. The implications for the education system is that teacher absenteeism and attrition due to ill health are likely to ensue. Bad health role modelling for young people is [another] problem.” (see quote reference here)

Pharmacist, complimentary medicines expert and life coach, Giulia Criscuolo advocates a holistic approach to dealing with stress and lifestyle diseases which she says can help lower the risks of poor health dramatically.