Obesity among women: a serious concern

Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. Once considered a high-income country problem, overweight and obesity are now on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings.

However, in Tanzania, overweight and obesity among women has more than doubled in the past 25 years.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children show that it has increased from 11 per cent in 1991-92 to 28 per cent in 2015-16 in a report titled, ‘2015-16 Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey.’

The study further says that overweight and obesity increases with education and household wealth. Women in urban areas are twice as likely to be overweight or obese, than women in rural areas.

What is overweight?

Overweight and obesity is measured using the body mass index.

In an article titled ‘Taking body weight measures with reason’ published in The Citizen, Dr Syriacus Buguzi explains body mass index (BMI) as: Divide your weight in kilograms (kgs) by your height in metres (m), then divide the answer by your height (m) again. What you get is called the BMI.

BMI can tell you a lot of things about your health. Normal BMI ranges between 18.5 and less than 25. That below 18.5 means being underweight and that above 25 means you are overweight, while that over 30 is being obese.

So why is it a concern?

The health consequences of being overweight are no news. It is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. World Health Organisation (WHO) reports them as follows:

• cardiovascular diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke), which were the leading cause of death in 2012;

• diabetes;

• musculoskeletal disorders (especially osteoarthritis – a highly disabling degenerative disease of the joints);

• some cancers (including endometrial, breast, ovarian , liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon). The risk for these noncommunicable diseases increases, with increases in BMI.

Our lifestyle to blame

In a study titled ‘Disparities in Risk Factors Associated with Obesity between Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland among Women of Reproductive Age Based on the 2010 TDHS’ showed the reason for increasing obesity with age is related to sedentary lifestyle and reduced metabolic rates.

It further said, “An increasing level of obesity among rural women can be explained by increased access to processed foods, changes in cooking styles, and declining level of physical activity as a result of declining participation in farming activities and the general demographic transition.

Similarly, higher prevalence of obesity in urban areas could be explained by an increase in sedentary lifestyle associated with urbanization such as physical activity level, income, and meal sizes.

Let’s take action

Obesity and overweight related problems are largely preventable. WHO recommends:

• limit energy intake from total fats and sugars;

• increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts; and

• engage in regular physical activity (60 minutes a day for children and 150 minutes spread through the week for adults).

The food industry can play a significant role in promoting healthy diets by:

• reducing the fat, sugar and salt content of processed foods;

• ensuring that healthy and nutritious choices are available and affordable to all consumers;

• restricting marketing of foods high in sugars, salt and fats, especially those foods aimed at children and teenagers; and

• ensuring the availability of healthy food choices and supporting regular physical activity practice in the workplace.

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