A festive afternoon of music and entertainment in Hamilton’s Victoria Park came with a serious message aimed at tackling the island’s “epidemic” of disease strongly linked to lifestyle choices.

Celebrating Wellness, now in its 11th year, was part of the continuing Move More Bermuda campaign, health minister Kim Wilson told the gathering.

Healthy eating and active living can combat the island’s ranking as the third highest for diabetes among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, with more than 13 per cent of residents diagnosed.

Ms Wilson added: “Fifty per cent of residents have at least one chronic condition such as diabetes, heart or kidney disease.

“One in three residents has high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, and 75 per cent of adults are overweight or obese.

“Many of these diseases are strongly related to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, physical inactivity and smoking.”

She said the Carnival Ready Health Extravaganza encouraged people to get “carnival ready”, or to simply reach an optimal quality of life through healthy choices.

“Simple actions like increasing our intake of local produce, reading labels of processed foods to make informed decisions and scheduling regular exercise will drastically improve our health and quality of life,” Ms Wilson said.

On hand to spread the message were groups including Furbert’s Vertical Gardening, the Bermuda Diabetes Association, the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, the Bermuda Jump Rope Federation, Bermuda Gymnastics Association and the Bermuda Red Cross.