South Africans are fattest in sub-Saharan Africa

A renowned health publication, The diet everyone talks about, has expressed concern over the alarming rate of obesity among youths in South Africa.

Quoting the World Health Organisation’s statistics, the report revealed that South Africans were the fattest people in sub-Saharan Africa, and South Africa ranked among the world’s top 20 overweight countries.

“Seven out of 10 South African women weigh more than what is considered healthy, and four of the seven are obese. One in four girls and one in five boys between two and 14 years are overweight or obese,” reads part of the report.

Read: High blood pressure can be fatal if untreated

The medical report urged South African parents to take a keen interest in the health of their children by fighting obesity. “In light of the recent Youth Month, keeping your children healthy is the responsibility of the parents,” read the report.

More and more children are being diagnosed with diabetes and obesity-related illnesses. According to SA statistics, in 2012, more South Africans were killed by heart disease and diabetes than HIV, with diseases related to high blood pressure very close behind.

Read: Be aware of what you eat

Debates are raging over what South Africans should or shouldn’t eat.

“South Africans eat too much and drink too much and don’t move enough,” said chief executive officer of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, Vash Mungal-Singh.

Disturbingly, South Africa’s increasing waistlines are not restricted to adults as the trend is becoming prevalent in children too.

Director of The diet everyone talks about, Kerry Oliver, is urging youths to eat citrus fruit and juices, exercise more and consume less food.

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