Sep/Oct 2023

42
South Woodford Village Gazette
what you eat
Local resident and dietitian Nikki Ottonaro is keen to help reduce the
high rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in our area, and will be
running free workshops on healthy eating this autumn
Are you concerned about the health of
you and your family? Do you need to
know how to nourish your family on
a budget with meals you can all enjoy? Are
you looking for ideas for fun activities to
promote more movement for you and your
family? Are you overwhelmed with all the
healthy eating information available?
These are frequent questions I have been
asked over the last 14 years as a communitybased
NHS and freelance dietitian. I’m a
working mum with three children and have
first-hand experience of the challenges we
face when trying to provide the family with
a nutritious meal and continually trying
to encourage a healthy lifestyle in this
digital age.
In my years working as a specialist diabetes
dietitian, I recognise the important role that a
healthy, balanced diet plays in people’s lives,
particularly children and young people. I meet
many patients who have complex medical
needs, which have either been caused or
worsened by poor nutrition. It’s so important
to have a varied diet with a good level of
vitamins and minerals to ensure optimal
growth and development.
In many cases, poor diet and lack of exercise
can lead to a number of serious health
conditions such as diabetes, heart disease
and stroke, amongst many others. In my
experience, the best way to combat this
increasing problem is to tackle the root cause
of the issue, which is improving knowledge
and awareness of a healthy diet in the home
and providing parents and guardians with
information on cooking healthy, nutritious
meals. Children often develop eating habits
based on those of their parents and take these
forward into their adult life. I want to impart
my knowledge and expertise to local parents
and help to debunk some of the confusing
healthy eating messages we are bombarded
with.
Current figures show there are 3.8 million
people living with the diagnosis of diabetes
in the UK and 90% of those have type 2. It is
thought there are also another million people
in the UK living with diabetes who don’t
know they have it. By 2030, it is predicted
the numbers will rise by 17%. Worryingly,
Redbridge has one of the highest rates of type
2 diabetes in London – currently at 8.66%
(the average for London boroughs is 6.51%).
Obesity is the main driver for the condition,
but age, family history and ethnicity all play
a role.
With a background in fitness, I also understand
the connection between our physical and
mental health. So, it’s essential to have a
holistic approach to healthy living, looking at
lifestyle and exercise, as well as food.
Nikki’s free workshop will take place at
Woodford Community Centre, Prospect
Road on 14 October from 2.30pm to
4.30pm. Email n.ottonaro@nhs.net
To advertise, call 020 8819 0595 or visit swvg.co.uk