This archive report was first published on 2 July 2021.
Published on July 2, 2021, a Ministry of Health report at the second National Food Fortification Summit 2021 exposed the alarming rate of obesity among women in certain regions of Kenya.
The report ranked Kirinyaga women at the top of the obesity list, with a staggering 50% rate across the country. They were followed closely by their counterparts in Nyeri, Murang'a, and Kiambu counties.
According to Veronica Kirogo, the Director of Nutrition and Dietetics at the Ministry of Health, the eating habits of women in these regions are largely to blame for their weight gain. 'Women in these regions prefer a mixture of rice and potatoes as food. That is not a balanced diet. What this kind of meal does is to add more weight to their bodies because the food contains a lot of calories,' Kirogo said.
The health hazards associated with obesity are numerous and include heart attacks, kidney diseases, and cancer-related diseases. The Ministry of Health has emphasized the need for a balanced diet to prevent such health issues.
