DEVELOPMENT brings progress and prosperity to a nation and it is considered to be normal for a country to keep pace with development and for its citizens to live a “more modern and sophisticated” lifestyle. But in all countries across the globe, development brings along different kinds of problems like environmental, substance abuse and health, to name a few.

Seychelles is no exception. A study, undertaken by the Ministry of Health, has shown that the number of people living with cardiovascular diseases here is on the rise and the situation is becoming alarming.

As a result, the Sports For All Unit (SFAU) within the National Sports Council (NSC) has intensified its fitness programmes which are part of its endeavour to promote a healthier lifestyle among the Seychellois people regardless of their ages.

Late last year, the SFAU came up with a new fitness programme called “Christmas Exercise Sports Gift” aimed at attracting all fitness enthusiasts and those who are inactive so that they can treat themselves to a Christmas gift by doing more exercise with the intention of losing weight and keeping fit.

Speaking to Sports Nation on  Thursday December 19, during the last session of this year's “Christmas Exercise Sports Gift” fitness programme which took place at Stad Linite, Mr Francis Remie, assistant director for the SFAU, said that the level of participation had increased this year and this simply proved that people were getting more conscious about their health and physical appearance.

“This year we have been able to decentralise the programme as we have conducted fitness sessions at the Anse Royale and the Anse Etoile district administrations,” he said.  

Remie, who was also responsible for conducting the programme, added that exercise was becoming part of the everyday life of our people, but still men were finding it hard to come forward.

Before Thursday December 19,  session, there was a talk on healthy eating by Ms Marie-Helene Niole of the Nutrition Unit in the Ministry of Health.