Children in Kenya are amongst the most overweight in Africa, the World Health Organization has said.
The WHO said this is because of a shift in diet to foods high in calories, but low in nutritional value.
On the other hand, according to Unicef, Kenya also has a high number of children – about 24 per cent – with stunted growth due to lack of enough food.
This means while many Kenyan children are suffering ill health from overfeeding, about two million others are suffering for lack of food.
The WHO said the obesity and overweight crisis is worsening in countries such as Kenya.
“Being obese or overweight raises the risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, muscle and skeletal disorders as well some types of cancer,” WHO said.
“Among children, being overweight is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood.”
One in five adults and one in 10 children and teenagers are projected to be obese by December 2023 if the trend is not reversed, WHO said.
“Africa is facing a growing problem of obesity and overweight, and the trends are rising. This is a ticking time bomb, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, said.
"If unchecked, millions of people, including children, risk living shorter lives under the burden of poor health. But we can resolve the crisis, because many of the causes of obesity and overweight are preventable and reversible.”
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health survey, about 18 per cent of Kenyan children are overweight and four per cent are obese.
Fat parents tend to pass bad eating habits on to their children.
The WHO analysis was released as part of World Obesity Day, which was observed on March 4.
WHO said it is supporting a global initiative to help Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda develop and implement regulatory standards to promote healthy diets and physical activity.
“In 2022, WHO will work with 10 more high-burden African countries for accelerated obesity reduction initiatives,” the organisation said.
Drivers of obesity include habits such as consuming energy-dense foods, sedentary lifestyles or lack of physical activity associated with rising urbanisation or changing modes of transport.
To combat obesity and overweight, WHO recommends a range of priority measures including government regulations such as mandatory limits on food sugar content and taxing unhealthy foods.
It also advocates facilities for safe, active transport and recreation as well as reinforcing public health services.
Globally, the WHO said, obesity has nearly tripled since 1975, and health issues associated with being overweight and obesity [high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes] now kill more people globally than those linked to being underweight.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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