In Orange Farm, a community south of Johannesburg, health workers are sounding the alarm on a growing health crisis: obesity among adolescents. Community health worker Mapule Mbhele from Barney Molokoane Clinic has observed that unhealthy eating habits often begin in childhood. For 16-year-old Precious Myeni, these habits have led to a weight of 95kg, a stark contrast to her childhood when she was about 10 years old. “.
My enjoyments include snacks, chips, sugary drinks, and kota. At school, I eat from the feeding scheme, but I also buy snacks and juice. At home, we eat fat cakes, bunny chow, and porridge, deep-frying meat without controlling portion sizes, “Precious explained.
She lacks regular exercise, spending most of her time watching television and being on social media.
Dr. Reyna Daya, a specialist physician and endocrinologist, emphasizes the long-term health consequences of childhood obesity, which can lead to conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure much earlier in life. She highlights the increasing trend of obesity starting in younger ages, including teenagers and even children under 10.
Despite health talks, outreach work, and door — to-door visits by clinic staff and community health workers, the problem persists. Precious’mother, Boitumelo Myeni, aims to support her daughter in losing weight safely. “I will be accompanying her to the clinic to check for any health risks and how she can lose weight correctly, “she.
Azi Booi, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, points out that obesity in low — income communities is driven by access and affordability. She emphasizes the importance of encouraging healthier habits without shaming children and suggests reducing the frequency of sugary drinks in the diet.
The Just Transition in the Food System group, a coalition of food justice and health advocates, has submitted a report to the SA Human Rights Commission’s food systems inquiry, highlighting the role of high food prices in driving the obesity crisis. A study by Wits-affiliated researchers found that overweight and obesity are particularly common among adolescent girls in urban areas, indicating a broader “triple burden of malnutrition.”Lebogang Seema, 15, struggles with confidence due to body-shaming and her increasing weight. “.
I started gaining weight when I was about 13 years old, “she. Her mother, Sarah Seema, 40, fears her daughter may face similar health challenges. “We need to start eating correctly, “she added.
Source: Health-e News
