Nearly one-third of adults in Botswana obese � study

Timebomb; Obesity is an emerging health crisis in Botswana
Timebomb; Obesity is an emerging health crisis in Botswana

Nearly a third of Botswana’s adult population is obese, while the prevalence of diabetes doubled between 2010 and 2011, pointing to an emerging health crisis in the country, experts have said.

In an interview during World Consumer Day last week, local dietician, Boingotlo Gaseitsiwe said the Botswana Family Health Study had shown that at least 29 percent of adults can be classified as obese, while 6.7 percent of children under the age of five are also overweight.

The study also found that about 27 percent of Botswana’s private school-going students are obese, while the figure is at 11.9 percent for the public school-going learners.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up