Why is obesity on the rise in South Africa?

With a growing economy, increased earnings and rapid urbanization, the adoption of a Western lifestyle including diet (with higher levels of animal fats, processed, convenience and sugary food) and lower levels of physical activity proliferate, making urbanization a significant risk factor for obesity in South Africa ( …

Is obesity high in Africa?

Out of the 20 fastest rising countries with obesity, nearly half of them are in Africa. The health burden on the continent is rising. Eight out of the 20 fastest rising countries with adult obesity are found in Africa.

Why is obesity increasing in developing countries?

The rise in obesity and related diseases in less developed countries can be traced in large part to the rapid nutrition transition in these countries—the shift from a diet of simple and sometimes traditional foods with little variation to a diet more reliant on processed foods, animal-source foods, fat, and sugar.

Is obesity a real problem in South Africa?

Did you know that 31\% of men and 68\% of women in South Africa are obese? Being overweight or obese not only affects your self-esteem, it also leads to heart disease and potentially an early death. This is a big problem, not only in adults but also in children. 13\% of South African children are obese.

Which countries struggle with obesity?

Among OECD countries, the United States is the most obese (36.2\%). According to WHO, more than 1.9 billion adults worldwide were overweight, including 650 million who were obese, in 2016….Global Obesity Levels.

Why is obesity a global issue?

Obesity is a major cause of morbidity, disability and premature death, compared to smoking because of its associated disease burden and impact on population health. Worldwide, the number of deaths from high BMI and physical inactivity was 6.56 million in 2010, more than that from tobacco (Lozano et al., 2012).

Obesity affects women than men in South Africa, as well as a significant population of the country’s children. Researchers claim that recent demographic and socioeconomic changes in the country have led to dietary changes that have triggered obesity.

How to fight overweight and obesity in Africa?

The rising middle-class in many African countries prefers to buy processed foods, rich in sugars and fats rather than eating fresh food. To fight overweight and obesity, there is need to go back to grandma’s recipe. That means eating vegetables, legumes, nuts, freshly cut fruit and the likes.

Which country is the fattest in Africa?

South Africa. With an obesity rate of 28.3\%, South Africa is sub-Saharan Africa’s fattest nation, and the third fattest country in the continent.

Which countries have the highest levels of obesity?

More than half the women in Botswana and one in eight Nigerian men are also obese, for example, while Egypt saw one of the fastest rises among women. Obesity is on the rise in poorer nations even among children; more than a quarter of girls and almost one in five boys in South Africa is overweight.