When one imagines the African continent, one would most likely come to the conclusion that Africa is a continent ridden with famine-induced starvation and depleting resources, prompting a need for more developed countries to provide aid to the continent. However, a new study has found that Africans, mostly in South Africa, are now fighting a battle that no one expected them to - obesity. According to Shane Norris, head of the new African Centre for Obesity Prevention, "In terms of Africa, obesity is a growing problem. Some countries are really experiencing high levels. Some countries are already experiencing quite high levels of obesity, others aren’t. [But] the trend is that more and more African countries, as they economically develop, will face obesity-related challenges. We can’t stop economic growth and we wouldn’t want to, but how can we put other things in place to counter the potential ill-health effects of the economic development?" Overall, it seems that the economic development that Africa is now experiencing has produced increasing levels of obesity as an unintended side effect. Some reasons for this include the switch from traditional, nutrient-rich foods such as maize meal and vegetables to high-calorie fast foods such as fried chicken and chips. In addition, an increase in obesity could also be credited to culture, in which weight gain is viewed as a sign of affluence or happiness. Conversely, weight loss can be attributed to something going wrong in that person's life, such as possible depression, loss of job, or an illness. Therefore, this becomes an issue of not only tackling the obesity problem through diet, but through changing the cultural mindset as well. However, while this is an issue, obesity isn't considered a health priority for those affected as attention is focused more on preventing and treating infectious diseases such as HIV, AIDS, and tuberculosis.
Source(s): http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/17/africa-faces-up-to-obesity-epidemic
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