More than half of the 20 countries with the highest obesity rates are in Africa, a continent known for its famines. Africa is a continent of famines and obesity too.
Africa is a continent of famines and obesity too
According to the U.S. medical website “MedicalXpress,” U.S. researchers explained that rapid urbanization and associated changes in people’s lifestyles mean that Africa is facing a growing obesity problem, and the percentage of the urban population across the continent is expected to rise to 50% by 2030 and 60% by 2050.
To analyze the magnitude of the obesity problem in Africa, the researchers analyzed Demographic and Health Survey data for about 24 African countries over a 25-year period, so that these data are collected every five years in developing countries.
They found that obesity is high among urban African women aged 15-49 years.
The most recent surveys in the field confirmed that four countries have an obesity prevalence among urban women above 20%, while the rest of the countries ranged from 10% to 19% obesity prevalence among urban women surveyed on childbearing. age.
Egypt led the way in obesity with a rate of 39%, followed by Ghana with a rate of 22%.
Both Egypt and Ghana have experienced a significant increase in obesity over the past 25 years, with a 13% increase in Egypt and a 22% increase in Ghana.
Obesity increases doubled in Kenya, Benin, Niger, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, and Uganda, while Zambia, Burkina Faso, Mali, Malawi, and Tanzania tripled.
In order to explore the secrets of this great paradox, healthy eating specialists have been interested in diagnosing this strange reality through healthy eating patterns and sports habits, with an emphasis on studying the causes of excessive cravings.
WHO talks about other health risks
Africa is facing a growing obesity problem. The World Health Organization defines overweight as an abnormal and excessive accumulation of fat, harmful to health.
And it confirms in its postulates that overweight, whether in stature or in the arms or legs, carries a serious threat to health and exposes its owner to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, arteries and obstructive brain shocks. .
And the World Health Organization talks about other health risks caused by obesity, such as ovarian, breast and kidney cancers.
Contrary to what is well known about the seriousness of obesity, what is prevalent in the African mentality is that the enormity of the rumen is proof of perfect health, and this is a belief that is not hidden from its error, as it indicates, apart from if it has been caused by a malignant tumor, malnutrition, bad living and complete inactivity.
WHO: the main cause of obesity is the large imbalance between the calories consumed and those expended
What many people do not realize is that obesity causes far more deaths than starvation. Obesity, however, puts extra work on health workers, which is the interest of treating obese men and women, which diverts them from pursuing infectious diseases. Health studies confirm that obesity is the leading cause of type 2 diabetes, a disease that is on the rise in several African countries.
The World Health Organization confirms that “the main cause of obesity is the large imbalance between the calories consumed and those expended”.
Internationally, there is a significant increase in the consumption of high-calorie and high-fat foods, coinciding with high inactivity and a severe lack of physical activity due to the urban lifestyle, the availability of transportation and rapid urbanization.
It is also noted at the global level, the prevalence of habits in the field of diet and physical activity, as well as environmental and other changes in societies and the lack of policies to help protect a healthy life in the areas of agriculture, health, education, transportation, urbanization, environment, food processing, distribution and marketing.