Overweight and obesity in sub-Saharan Africa are most common in women and specifically in the 25 – 44-year-old age group. This is most probably due to the retention of gestational weight gain; but may also be the outcome of numerous lifestyle factors, including poor dietary practices and physical inactivity.
Body mass index, or BMI, is one way to assess whether your weight is in the healthy range. The BMI combines a person’s height and weight to form a measure that can help predict their risk of developing disease. Another useful measure of determining whether you could be at risk of obesity-related chronic diseases is your waist circumference.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that for adults, the healthy range for BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Overweight is defined as a body mass index of 25 to 29.9, and obesity is pegged at a BMI of 30 or higher.
Urbanization also plays a significant role in that there is exposure to a diet that veers from traditional foods to foods containing high levels of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar and a low intake of dietary fibre. Busy work schedules make fast foods convenient to a majority of people. Nairobi Hospital’s Nutritionist/Dietitian, Dorcas Gichuhi says the so-called modern way of life for both the affluent and middle-class groups has become more sedentary.
“Weight gain is predominantly as a result of excess caloric intake; i.e. the amount of calories ingested does not balance with physical activities. However, long-term use of steroids and people with hypothyroidism may have hormonal imbalances posing a risk to unintentional weight gain,” explained Gichuhi.