Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. In 2022, an estimated 37 million children worldwide, under the age of five years-old were considered overweight. Once thought to be a high-income problem, obesity is now on the rise in developing countries.
According to the World Health Organisation, in Africa, the number of overweight children under five has increased by nearly 23% in the past four years. This is a global problem. The numbers are even higher from the global south which accounts for more than 40 % of the world’s population, 26 % of the world’s territory, and 30 % of the Global GDP ( Gross Domestic Product ). In Brazil, excess weight affects teenagers more than children.
A World Obesity Atlas predicts that more than 186 million children between the ages of 5 and 19 in BRICS+ countries will be obese by the year 2030.
Children living with obesity by 2030 in BRICS+
Brazil has more than 7 million obese children aged 5-19 years
-Russia has over two-and-a half million
– India 27 million
– China 61 million
– South Africa 4 million
– Saudi Arabia 1.8 million
– Egypt 6 million
– Ethiopia 19 million
– Iran 3 million.
The consumption of meat, oil, sugar and dairy is on the increase in China for both urban and rural residents with some startling statistics. According to reports, 8.3 % of Chinese children were overweight and obese in 2020 and the numbers keep rising. As a result, many Chinese teenagers are seeking help. Slimming centres have opened across the country filled with young, hopeful adolescents looking to shed more than just a few pounds.
In South Africa Obesity is recognised as a public health crisis.
With thirteen percent of South African children under the age of 5 years living with obesity, the government signed up to reduce that figure by up to 10% by 2020. This was in line with the goals of the World Health Organisation Recommendations for ending Childhood obesity. But two years later, a study published in 2022 by the University of the Witwatersrand, indicated an upward trend in the number of obese children between 5 and 19 years old. The report also revealed that obesity is costing the South Africa’s health system $1.9 billion.
This is because almost a fifth of the government health expenditure is spent treating diseases associated with obesity, like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Another country grappling with the effects of obesity is India. The country has a booming economy that has led to greater disposable income. However, at the same time this has caused a spike in so-called Western lifestyle diseases like obesity and diabetes. It’s affecting the affluent and it’s costing money and lives.
According to the World Health Organization, Egypt is amongst the top 20 countries with the highest prevalence of obesity in the world. While there are very few studies published about the burden of diseases in Egypt in general, there’s been even less written about obesity. Almost a fifth of the Egyptian population – 19.8 percent to be exact – is estimated to have died from obesity-related complications in 2020.Egypt’s National Institute of Nutrition says children are vulnerable because of the rise in the consumption of processed foods.
Dr Gudani Mukona Researcher & Director of The African Centre for Obesity Prevention told BGTN that Screen time, reduction of processed food intake and promoting physical activity amongst children may well be the remedy needed to combat obesity, but that is the responsibility of the parents, not the state.
American researchers claim obesity is a major contributor to the development of many diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea, and fatty liver, in addition to several serious diseases.
The fight against obesity must start at ground level, from parents, teachers and community leaders.
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