Full-figured women who consider themselves sexy and confident with their weight are being cautioned by the Ministry of Health (MOH) not to abuse the 'fluffy' concept and use it as an excuse to promote an unhealthy lifestyle.

In a release on Tuesday, the Health Promotion and Protection Branch (HPPB) of the MOH said that they have been noticing that traditional words like 'fat' or 'big' have been traded for the concept 'fluffy'; which is seen as a source of empowerment.

The MOH said that overweight and obesity present a risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as Type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, joint diseases such as osteoarthritis and certain types of cancer.

"At the time of the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2008, more than 50 per cent of Jamaicans were overweight or obese, with more than 60 per cent of women between the ages of 25-74 being overweight or obese. Once considered a problem for high-income countries, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in low and middle-income countries have significantly increased in recent times," the release said.

healthier food choices

Also, Dr Kevin Harvey, director of the HPPB, said in the release that the branch is "encouraging persons to make healthier food choices by eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, while reducing portions, and sugar, total fats, and salt intake; that level of commitment requires a strong support system," he said.

The release also stated that "persons should engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily such as walking or riding a bicycle, as well as to regularly check their Body Mass Index (BMI) and screen for non-communicable diseases," the release said.

Meanwhile, Kerry Johns, who considers herself 'fluffy', told THE STAR that 'fluffy' women are not using the concept to promote an unhealthy lifestyle, "It is true that the term should not be used as an excuse to promote an unhealthy lifestyle but to say that fluffy people are unhealthy is incorrect. Not everybody who is fluffy is unhealthy, and not everybody who is slim is healthy. Slim people get sick all the time and fluffy people dem fat cushion them," Johns said.

Joan Morris, who also considers herself fluffy, said that she welcomes what the MOH said, " I am on the fluffy side and I know that I need to watch my weight. They are not saying that you should get skinny, the ministry is just saying that we should not get the thing twisted. We should watch what we eat," Morris told THE STAR.