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conferenceseries LLC Ltd
19th International Conference on
Obesity, Healthcare - Nutrition & Fitness
March 18 - 19, 2019 | New York, USA
SCIENTIFIC TRACKS | DAY 2 JOURNAL OF OBESITY &WEIGHT LOSS THERAPY 2019, VOLUME: 4 | DOI: 10.4172/2165-7904-C2-093
An integrated approach
can curb obesity and
unhealthy lifestyles: The
role of religious leaders
on health promotion in
SouthernAfrica
Ngwako Daniel Sebola
University of Pretoria, South Africa
T he growing obesity epi-
demic, unregulated lifestyle
resulting in deteriorating
health, the premature and
avoidable onset of disease,
including excessive health care
costs are among major crisis in
Southern African communities.
This paper argues that religious
institutions have been isolated
from taking part in health pro-
motion for ages. Religious cen-
ters have been strictly regard-
ed as the place for people who
needed spiritual fulfillment
and not for environmental and
health education. While the
notion is valid, whoever, such
perception has limited the
true essence of religion(s). The
global community, with its di-
verse fields of disciplines, pro-
fessionals, and experts in every
field of endeavor has been
working partially or total iso-
lation from one another. Lack
of integration in addressing
individuals and communities’
calamities are equally to blame
on the scourge of ill-health.
The paper further argues that
in order to eliminate the epi-
demic, an integrated approach
by concerned stakeholders,
including health care sectors
and faith-based organizations
are crucial. Religious leaders
have more credibility for influ-
encing behaviors than other
leadership structures in a given
society. By addressing matters
of health, nutrition, and fitness
from their respective places,
faith-based leaders can be
effective agents in promoting
critical change in South African
communities.
Biography
Ngwako Daniel Sebola is an
ordained priest in the Anglican
Church of Southern Africa, and
serves as a self- supporting
priest at the parish of Zout-
pansberg, Diocese of St Mark,
Limpopo, South Africa. He is
married, and his wife is Takala-
ni. The couple is blessed with
four children, two daughters,
Rachel (aged 19), Abigail (aged
14) and twin boys, Michael,
and Gabriel (aged 8). He is a
member of the South Afri-
can Police Service, holding a
rank of Chief Chaplain and is
stationed at the National Head
Office, Pretoria.