Most women in Dar es Salaam are overweight - report

Close to half of Tanzanian women aged between 15 and 49 years are overweight, a new report says.

The report says that this puts the women at risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

The report by the National Bureau of Statistics says obesity among women grew to 47 percent in 2020/21, up from 38.8 percent in 2014/15.

The situation, the report says, is worse in urban areas where 60.5 percent of women were overweight compared to 40.3 percent in rural areas.

Dar es Salaam recorded the largest increase increase of overweight women (about 12 percentage points).

According to The Citizen, health experts blame it on people’s increasingly unhealthy eating habits while ignoring physical activities and exercise.

Aboubakar Mzee, a nutritionist from Muhimbili National Hospital-Mloganzila told The Citizen that eating fast food can contribute to overweight because most of those foods are high in carbohydrates and fats.

“If you look at the age that has been mentioned, the majority are girls or ladies who are able to buy those foods themselves. Those of a lower age cannot be overweight because they are under the care of their parents, even the foods are managed. Those above that age have a small appetite so it is not easy to find them overweight,” he says.

The nutritionist advised women to change their lifestyle and ensure that what they eat is lowered by engaging the body in different activities.

“Failure to do so will result in weight gain and the development of ailments,” he added.