Dr Retha Kotze Image: Jesi TownsendMeet research-enthusiast Dr Retha Kotze, a lecturer in nutrition and physiology at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) with a mission to study how factors that increase the risk of heart disease and nutrition work together to combat heart disease.
Her research hub may be nestled in the Dietetics and Nutrition department, but her heart beats for South African people.
Dr Kotze’s research takes a plunge into exploring several lifestyle factors and their association with cardiovascular disease risk - a growing concern in both older and younger populations.
Investigating how what we eat and how we move affects our heart health is her greatest passion. “We measure people’s dietary intake to look at what they eat,” she explains. From eating patterns to diet diversity, her team is on a mission to decode how everyday choices shape long-term health. And it’s not just about food and physical activity - her team also assesses biomarkers. These are measurable indicators of what's happening inside your body, making this a full-body science adventure.
Together, they’re tackling the two modifiable lifestyle risk factors of nutrition and exercise to help South Africans live longer, healthier lives. “We know we can make a difference,” she says, and that difference starts with understanding how habits shape health.
Dr Kotze’s work aims to inform better screening methods, self-management and healthcare services. “We can plan better, develop more targeted policies, and improve services at the healthcare level,” she says. By identifying people at risk early, such research could lead to improvement, especially in lifestyle-related interventions.
What’s especially exciting? She’s turning her focus toward young adults - an often-overlooked group increasingly affected by cardiovascular disease. “We do not see just older people developing cardiovascular disease, but also younger people,” she notes. Her future research will explore how lifestyle choices in youth impact long-term health.
And why should postgraduate students care? Because this field isn’t just about science - it’s about impact. “If we can address cardiovascular disease risk factors in our country, we can also help reduce obesity levels, diabetes prevalence, and improve people’s quality of life,” she says. That’s a career with purpose.
“I’ve expanded my focus to young adults and encourage students to join the field to help reduce obesity, diabetes, and improve quality of life across South Africa,” she said.
