“Journalists are highly susceptible to stress and its detrimental health effects due to the demanding nature of their profession.”
The above were the words of Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, Development Journalist and former Commissioning Editor at The Conversation Africa, while speaking at the Health and Wellness workshop for Journalists under 40, organised by the Media Career Development Network.
Drawing from her personal experience, Belo-Osagie recounted instances where her drive to excel in her career led her to neglect her health.
According to her, Journalists are predisposed to conditions that lead to chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
She emphasised the importance of regular health checks and advised them to monitor their blood and sugar levels and be mindful of their diet.
Belo-Osagie highlighted both external and internal factors contributing to journalists’ stress. External factors include workload, work environment, and diet, while internal factors involve the stress hormone cortisol, which affects sleep, increases blood sugar production, heightens cravings, and impacts mental health.
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“Food is medicine!” Belo-Osagie declared, referencing the World Cancer Research Fund’s finding that 30 to 40 percent of all cancers are preventable through healthy diet and lifestyle choices. She warned against “bad medicine,” comparing unhealthy foods to harmful drugs that lead to cravings, addiction, and ADHD-like symptoms.
She advised journalists to avoid sugar, ultra-processed foods, simple carbohydrates, and excessive starchy carbs. Instead, she recommended incorporating more fiber into their diet with vegetables like cabbage, carrot, spinach, nuts and bitterleaf, and improving gut health with fiber and fermented foods, noting the gut-brain connection.
Belo-Osagie also stressed the importance of protein for building and maintaining muscle mass, which begins to decline as early as in the 30s.
“Increasing protein intake can help burn more calories and support muscle health”. She urged journalists to choose complex carbohydrates over processed foods and limit added sugars found in ready-to-eat products.
“Exercise is medicine,” she stated, underscoring the importance of physical exercise for overall health.
Advocating for a holistic approach to well-being in Media Career, Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network echoed the same sentiments as Belo-Osagie, advising journalists to prioritise their health.
“No story is worth your life”, he said, urging journalists to balance their professional ambitions with a commitment to their health.
