Many of the island’s killer diseases can be prevented by adopting new lifestyle behaviours, according to a government nutritionist.

Cymone Hollis spoke out ahead of the launch of a lifestyle programme that focuses on physical and mental wellbeing, which will be offered by the Department of Health.

The Pivio Lifestyle Medicine Programme is described as a “well-established lifestyle education initiative” that centres on plant-based nutrition, physical activity, stress reduction, mindfulness training and positive psychology.

The health department ran the programme for the first time last summer.

Ms Hollis said that the eight participants had achieved some impressive results after completing the three-month course, including losing a combined 57lb in weight and achieving lower cholesterol and blood pressure scores.

The registered dietitian said: “Pivio gets people to change their behaviour because of the support system that you have every step of the way, everybody is learning together and putting into practice.

“Having a whole group of people who are on that same journey with you, learning new things — once you’ve had that education you can’t really change it once you start putting it into practice.

“It’s an experience with a ‘whole person’ approach and it’s set up for everyone to be successful, not like some typical fad diets.

“You get a comprehensive framework to pivot towards a healthier you. People can go away with impressive results for themselves and benefits and feel good about it — being successful.

“Pivio continues to focus on our top causes of death in Bermuda that are lifestyle-related, that can be prevented or managed if we can just think about how to change our lifestyle.”

Ms Hollis said that heart and circulatory disease were probably the biggest health concerns on the island.

She also noted that 75 per cent of Bermudians are overweight or obese.

Ms Hollis said the programme taught the importance of a plant-based diet, although she stressed that meal plans were not strictly vegetarian.

She explained: “It’s really important to focus not on being vegan but to be more plant-based, which means including more fruits and vegetables and whole grains, realising that it doesn’t always have to be fresh, it can be canned or dried or frozen.

“One of the things Bermudians have stopped buying is fruits and vegetables and we need to get back to finding the affordable way to do that.

“We need to learn how we can we include these things in our diet because all of the chronic illnesses that Bermuda is dealing with could be managed or prevented by including more of those things.”

Ms Hollis said the course would teach participants how to prepare different meals.

She said: “We do get together to do a food demo and we have a virtual grocery store.

“I think that once you are educated on the other options that are just as healthy and nutritious you can make changes and find out how to include them and learn new ways of cooking. That’s really the biggest pivotal point.”

A health department spokeswoman added: “This programme has a proven track record of guiding individuals towards positive health transformations, resulting in potential reductions in medication dependency, weight loss and enhancements in cholesterol and blood glucose levels.”

Structured classes will start on March 21 through remote sessions over a nine-week period, providing a “comprehensive and impactful journey towards improved wellbeing”.

Although the course will run online, the health department has planned in-person activities to encourage participants and staff will be available to answer questions.

Registration is open until February 29, with a fee of $200 a person covering virtual classes and materials.

To learn more about the Pivio programme, join an online live information session on Thursday at 5.30pm on the Department of Health Facebook page.

There will be additional information sessions on February 20, 22 and 27.

Members of the public are invited to attend the official launch of the programme today at a pop-up cooking demonstration at the Marketplace on Church Street, starting at midday.

Naji Bean, an aspiring Bermudian culinary student, will demonstrate the ease of preparing healthy deserts for Valentine’s Day.

Mr Bean is a second-year student at Bermuda College.

• For more details, contact the Department of Health by e-mail at nutrition@gov.bm or call 278-6469