Jamaicans Urged to Commit to Fitness Lifestyle

State Minister in the Ministry of National Security and Peace, Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, is calling on Jamaicans to use the start of the new year to commit to a lifestyle of fitness, incorporating daily exercise and healthy diet.

“I believe fitness should be a lifestyle and we should all live it daily for it not to be a fad,” she said, while addressing the launch of FitFest Party & Expo 2026, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (January 15).

Mrs. Cuthbert-Flynn said that there are many benefits to be derived from practising a fitness lifestyle, noting that it supports physical and mental well-being, which could reduce aggression and violence in the society.

She said that engaging in daily physical activity and consuming healthy foods are also key in reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the population, which cause premature deaths.

“We’re actually dying faster with non-communicable diseases – hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and there are many reasons for that,” she pointed out.

“Something also frightening is strokes happening in Jamaica. Approximately 7,000 Jamaicans are affected with a stroke every year and of that 7,000, over 2,000 die. Again, it goes back to our lifestyle,” Mrs. Cuthbert-Flynn said.

She further urged Jamaicans to get their executive profiles done, and not just do blood pressure checks.

“You have to make sure you are taking care of yourself,” she said.

FitFest Party & Expo 2026 will be held on January 31 at the National Water Commission (NWC) Sports Club in Mona, St. Andrew.

Organised by BodyByKurt Fitness, the free family event is aimed at building a culture of fitness to combat NCDs.

It features high-energy group classes like aerobics, dancehall, soca, obstacle courses, live performances, wellness screenings, and health vendors, designed to make fitness accessible, fun, and community-focused for all ages.

Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison, in endorsing the FitFest, said she is pleased that it will incorporate a kiddies village.

She noted that children have a right to play, relaxation and leisure, in keeping with Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“We are pleased that FitFest has dedicated a space for children and understands the importance of play, but equally significant for us is that it enables the adults – the parents, the grandmothers, the aunties to come and get fit while knowing that their children are properly entertained, properly occupied and properly supervised,” Mrs. Gordon Harrison said.

‘For his part, conceptualiser of FitFest, Kurt Dunn, noted that he started the initiative in March 2018 with a simple dream of making Jamaicans fall in love with fitness.

“Today, in 2026, FitFest has grown from a workout session into the island’s premier fitness movement, but as we grow our why remains pretty much the same. The mission of FitFest surrounds non-communicable diseases, which continue to rise across our nation. Health is no longer a personal choice but a national priority, and FitFest is our response to that national challenge,” he said.

“We are not just hosting an event. We are fostering a culture,” Mr. Dunn added.