The great news is that up to 80% of heart diseases and strokes that happen before the age of 70 years can be prevented by simply living a healthy lifestyle and treating conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. A healthy lifestyle involves eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, not smoking, managing day-to-day stress, if drinking alcohol then doing so in moderation, and maintaining a healthy weight.

In reality, the lifestyles of most South Africans are steadily becoming unhealthier:

68% of women and 31% of men are overweight or obese.

Up to 45% of adults suffer from high blood pressure.

37% of men and 7% of women are regular smokers.

Nearly 1 in 2 women and over a quarter of men are physically inactive.

Most eat a diet high in processed meat, salt, sugars, and don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables.

More than 50% of children don’t take a lunch box to school.