New Survey Ranks Kenyan Women 9th Most Overweight in Africa

A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that Kenyan women are the amon the most overweight in the African continent.

The report shows that Kenyan women are 9th most overweight in Africa, with Swaziland, Lesotho, Gabon, Ghana, Mauritania, Comoros, Zimbabwe and Sao Tome occupying the first eight positions.

The report used data collected from 47 countries between year 2000 to 2016 and sampled women aged 18 to 49.

The Africa Nutrition Report further indicate the percentage of women categorized as overweight in the Africa stands at an average of 23.8 per cent. Ethiopia has the lowest at 5.7 per cent, while 50.6 per cent of women in Swaziland are overweight. 32.8 per cent of women in Kenya are overweight. Sao Tome's stand at 33.7 per cent rate, Zimbabwe 34.9, Comoros 36.3, Mauritania 38.4, Lesotho 44.6,Ghana 40.1 and Gabon 44.1 per cent.

Only six countries have an average rate of below 15 per cent, including Burkina Faso with 11.2 per cent, Burundi with 7.5, Chad at 11.5, Eritrea at 8.9, Ethiopia at 5.7 per cent and Madagascar with 6.3 per cent.

"Obesity is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases and is included among the nine voluntary targets for 2025 in the Global NCD Action Plan," the report released on November 21st states.