The Crew Health team recently analysed data from 900+ crew medical examinations where multiple illnesses were highlighted. Over 200 crewmembers failed their pre-sea medical examination due to a combination of serious illnesses in addition to obesity.
It could be argued that obesity alone is a pre-cursor to other more serious conditions if nothing is done to reduce BMI and improve lifestyle.
A BMI of 25 or above can signify a serious weight problem. Poor eating habits and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to the development of many lifestyle diseases.
An accurate clinical assessment is always required for crew members with raised BMI. If being overweight interferes with the person’s role onboard or they are unable to perform part of their job (including safety responsibilities) they may be found temporarily unfit,which means they are unable to go to sea. At the time of a temporary unfit decision based on BMI or obesity, the medical examiner will usually provide advice on weight reduction and weight loss targets can be set to encourage improvement and reduction of BMI.
Carrying excess weight not only causes a strain on the system but can also lead to other serious illness, e.g. hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and even some musculoskeletal conditions. It is within these illness groups that the UK P&I Club has seen the largest growth in crew medical failures.
Shipowners, and employers themselves, can also assist the crew to prevent obesity onboard by ensuring seafarers are provided with a healthy diet such as that recommended byThe World Health organisation.
Fruit – A recommended 5-10 portions of fruit and vegetables per day.
Fat – A reduction in fat intake is encouraged.This can be achieved by changing cooking methods, i.e. swap frying for baking or steaming.
Salt – A lowering of salt levels can be achieved by not adding salt during food preparation, limiting the amount of salty, savoury snacks and not putting salt on the table at mealtimes.
Sugar – Sugar intake can be reduced by 10% by avoiding sugar sweetened drinks, snacks and sweets. Swap processed sugar for natural fruit sugars by eating fruit and raw vegetables.
Exercise plays an important part in achieving and maintaining fitness. Even a small amount of physical activity such as 30 minutes per day on an exercise bike can have positive results.
Crew members, given time, free space, and encouragement to exercise, will see the benefit of weight loss, but also a reduction in stress levels, improved sleep and a boost to their self-esteem. Small steps, such as the above, help crew members to achieve and preserve good health, and employers to maintain a fit, healthy and happy crew.This helps to reduce the likelihood of poor health, leading to a shortened seagoing career or medical emergency at sea.
Source: https://www.ukpandi.com/news-and-resources/news/article/crew-health-advice-obesity/
Source: WHO
EMPIRE NAVIGATION HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING SUPPORT PROGRAM BY MCTC as per below:
We are pleased to share details about the “My Balance” health and wellbeing support program by MCTC, our new Catering service provider. The program is available for all crew and offce staff of Empire Navigation Inc.
“My Balance” is designed to provide personalized health and nutrition support for crew members who may be at higher health risk due to factors such as hypertension, elevated BMI, high cholesterol, and other health related conditions. Our goal is to offer practical, individualized support to enhance health and wellbeing.
How It Works:
You can contact MCTC directly using the following contact details:
Contact person: Nichole Stylianou (MCTC Health & Wellbeing – Dietitian Nutritionist) Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Telephone number: +357 99 937869
Once identified, MCTC will arrange confidential, one-on-one online sessions with yourselves and their qualified nutrition team.
During these sessions, they will work closely with you to develop a personalized nutrition plan tailored to your specific needs and health goals. An Assessment Consent Form will need to be completed by you.
We wish to remind you that MCTC is a global maritime catering management and training business with a primary vision to revolutionize the quality of meals served onboard vessels. Our mission is to make a significant contribution to healthier eating habits. We are committed to delivering exceptional culinary experiences and promoting nutritious food choices for the well-being of seafarers.
