How to Prevent Overweight and Obesity

“Africa is facing a growing problem of obesity and overweight, and the trends are rising. This is a ticking time bomb. If unchecked, millions of people, including children, risk living shorter lives under the burden of poor health,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “But we can resolve the crisis, because many of the causes of obesity and overweight are preventable and reversible.”

The World Obesity Federation’s 2023 atlas predicts that 14 percent of Ugandans or more than five million Ugandans will be obese or overweight by 2035.

Dietary habits such as consuming foods with more calories than the body burns, inactive lifestyles or lack of physical activity associated with rising urbanization or changing modes of transport in many countries are significant drivers of obesity. Lack of strong policies in key sectors including health, agriculture, urban planning and environment to support healthier lifestyles also contributes to growing obesity and overweight in many countries (WHO Africa).

Being obese or overweight raises the risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, muscle and skeletal disorders as well some types of cancer. Among children, being overweight is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood.

Tips to prevent obesity

• Choosing healthier diet enriched with fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and protein.
• Limiting unhealthy foods such as potatoes, sweets, red and processed meat.
• Limiting unhealthy beverages (sugary drinks and sodas etc.)
• Avoiding sedentary lifestyle, physical activity by limiting screen time and other “sit time”.

Lowering the risk of overweight and obesity includes adopting a healthy diet such as reducing the number of calories consumed in fats and sugars, undertaking regular physical activity as well as government policies that help people opt for healthier lifestyles and diets, for instance, by ensuring that healthy foods are accessible and affordable.