Obesity on the Rise Globally -Global Nutrition Report

The rates of obesity and overweight are rising in every region of the world and in nearly every country , this according to the 2016 Global Nutrition Report.

The report has revealed insufficient progress in the fight against all forms of Malnutrition, for example, almost all countries are off course on efforts to reduce anemia in women and to prevent further increase in diabetes.

The Global Nutrition Report also reflected on a number of actions that countries have taken towards ending malnutrition by the year 2030 thereby contributing to achievement of the World Health Assembly targets and the Sustainable Development Goals. Based on emerging available evidence, nutrition is both a global and national problem.

The Kenya demographic and heath Survey {2014} indicates that more than quarter 26% of the children below five years are stunted while 11% are underweight and 4% are wasted.

The 2015 Non Communicable Diseases step survey indicates that 27% of Kenyans are either overweight or obese with the percentage being significantly higher in women than men.

Malnutrition among children under 5 years is still a widespread problem in many developing countries. Worldwide , approximately 162 million children under the age of 5 were stunted in 2008-2009{Demographic and Heath Survey}

While consuming a variety of foods is important for meeting essential nutrient requirements, traditional diets fed to children in many developing countries are based predominantly on starchy staples with few or no nutrient-rich foods such as fruits vegetables and animal source foods.

The solution and action to address malnutrition are documented and well known. What is required now is the scale up of these interventions to achieve the expected gains.

Read: Being in Charge of your Health and Healthy Eating Habits

While Kenya has made tremendous steps in ensuring that nutrition security is realized , the country still faces a number of challenges at county level that include insufficient resources, limited high level engagement for Nutrition and inadequate nutrition staff in some countries.

In regards to the commitment by the Kenyan government, the Cabinet Secretary for Health Dr. Cleopa Mailu stated “My ministry remains fully committed to the nutrition cause and has put in place adequate policies and systems to ensure that malnutrition is addressed in all its form”.

The Global Nutrition Report is an annual assessment of countries progress in meeting global nutrition targets established by the World Assembly and commitments made at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in 2013.