Browsing by Author "Sekgala, Machoene Derrick"

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    Anthropometric indices and cut-off points for screening of metabolic syndrome among South African taxi drivers
    (Frontiers Media, 2022) Sekgala, Machoene Derrick; Opperman, Maretha; Mpahleni, Buhle
    Detecting the early onset of metabolic syndrome (MetS) allows for quick intervention which may slow progression to a variety of health consequences, hence, determining the best measurement to detect MetS is essential. This research aimed at examining the MetS predictive power of anthropometric indices, such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), percentage body fat (%BF), conicity index (CI), and Clínica Universidad de Navarra-body adiposity estimator (CUN-BAE) to determine the cut-o􀀀 points to identify male South African taxi drivers with MetS.
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    The association between plant-based diets and dietary patterns with cardiometabolic risk in a sample of commercial taxi drivers in South Africa
    (MDPI Journal, 2023) Sekgala, Machoene Derrick; Lopes, Tatum; Zemlin, Annalise Edith
    The consumption of unhealthy foods and a sedentary lifestyle predispose individuals to non-communicable diseases. This study investigated the distribution and the association of plant-based diets (PBDs) and dietary patterns in relation to the cardiometabolic risks in commercial taxi drivers. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among males (19 years) who consumed street foods sold by vendors in the Cape Metropole. A validated questionnaire was administered, including a quantified 24 h dietary recall, and fasting blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses. Statistical analyses were performed to investigate the association between dietary habits and cardiometabolic risks, while adjusting for confounding variables. The analytic sample consisted of 189 males with a median age of 38 years. The taxi drivers who ranked in the top-third of the healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI) had a 1–4% lower likelihood of having raised triglycerides (TG). Furthermore, consumption patterns including refined grains and meat conferred a 33% lower likelihood of dysglycaemia (p = 0.049), while fish/seafood, potatoes, and vegetables conferred a 43% greater likelihood of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p = 0.026) and 44% greater probability of raised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p = 0.027). Consumption patterns, including sugar-sweetened beverages and eggs, conferred a 37% greater probability of hypertension (p = 0.047) and 53% greater likelihood of subclinical inflammation (p = 0.017). These preliminary findings require larger and more elaborate studies to explore the associations between PBDs and dietary patterns in at-risk African populations, with or without sedentary lifestyles, and exposure to unhealthy food environments.
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    Metabolic syndrome and the risk of consuming street food among commercial taxi drivers in South Africa. A cross-sectional study
    (University of the Western Cape, 2022) Sekgala, Machoene Derrick; Mchiza, Zandile
    Minibus taxi drivers in South Africa are eminent street food (SF) consumers with these affordable foods easily accessible at taxi ranks. Regular SF consumption, in combination, with unhealthy lifestyles associated with taxi driving, predisposes them to develop metabolic syndrome (MetS). Detecting the early onset of MetS allows for early intervention, which may slow the progression to various health consequences. The primary aim of the thesis was to describe the prevalence, extent, and determinants of MetS among male minibus taxi drivers, 20 years and older operating in the Cape Town metropole who rely on SF for their daily calorie and nutrient intake. A secondary aim was to use these outcomes to develop recommendations for targeted interventions to improve their health status and lifestyle.
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    Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and the risk of metabolic syndrome in taxi drivers: A focus on street food
    (Frontiers Media, 2023) Sekgala, Machoene Derrick; Opperman, Maretha; Mpahleni, Buhle
    In South Africa, similar to other populous countries, the taxi industry is an important form of transportation that contributes to the country’s development. As a result, minibus taxi driving is an occupation characterized by strenuous activities such as long hours of driving, limited rest, and challenges related to securing passengers, among several others. Consequently, to combat stress, some commercial drivers resort to smoking, overeating unhealthy food sold at transportation interchange areas (i.e., taxi ranks), and participating in sedentary behaviors. Most of these activities are risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MetS).