Under nutrition is a major problem in Africa, but the burden of overweight and obesity in children co-exists. In the year 2000, Africa had an estimated prevalence of overweight and obesity for children less than five years of age at 5.7%. There was an increase to 8.5% in 2010 and a projected increase to 12.7% by the year 2020. Eastern Africa had an estimated prevalence of 2.2% in the year 2000. There is a projected increase to 5.5% by the year 2020. (de Onis, Blössner, & Borghi, 2010)
A study was done comparing rural and urban pre-school children in Kenya. It estimated obesity at 4% in the urban children and nil in the rural children. This study attempted to determine other risk factors for obesity. Maternal education played a role. Mothers with less than primary school training were found to be more likely to have obese children.(Gewa, 2010)
The pattern by which obesity prevalence rises in populations seems predictable. In low-income and middle-income countries, groups of higher socioeconomic status in urban areas tend to be the first to have an increase in obesity. This burden shifts to low socioeconomic status groups and rural areas as a country's gross domestic product (GDP) increases.(Ezzati, Lopez, Rodgers, Vander Hoorn, & Murray, 2002)
Economic transition is also associated with other changes. Demography changes from younger to older populations and rural to urban migrations result. Epidemiological changes occur from communicable to more non communicable diseases (NCD). Technology tends to improve and mass transit systems are created which have a higher level of mechanization and motorization. Dietary changes often occur with transition from traditional less processed foods to high calorie processed food. There is also an increased supply of cheap, palatable, energy-dense foods with improved distribution systems to make food more accessible. There is more persuasive food marketing for unhealthy high calorie diets.(Finkelstein, Ruhm, & Kosa, 2005; Philipson & Posner, 2003; Popkin, 1998)
For high-income countries, a higher level of GDP does not necessarily bring greater wellbeing for its citizens but greater consumption of all products. The technological changes and mass food production systems create cheaper and more available high calorie foods and the strong economic forces driving consumption often lead to over-consumption and obesity. Prosperity in this case enables obesity.(Swinburn et al., 2011)
Obesity is an associated risk factor for early development of hypertension. This increases the amount of cardiovascular disease in a population at a younger age. Metabolic syndrome, type two diabetes mellitus, arthrosclerosis, sleep disturbances and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are other associated problems.(l'Allemand-Jander, 2010; Nathan & Moran, 2008)
In some countries obesity may account for 2-6% of total health care costs. This places a greater burden on budgetary allocations to health care. This is especially true for countries where communicable diseases are also a significant problem. (Lins, Jones, & Nilson, 2010)
Kenya is in the transition phase where the upper and middle income groups in urban areas are at risk of obesity and its complications. With increase in GDP and rural-urban migrations, the low income groups will be affected. This implies that Kenya will suffer from the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases within all income groups in the future. Initially it might be the urban populations most affected, especially the urban poor. Eventually it will affect rural populations. Early onset hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases will place a significant disease burden on the already stretched health care system.
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