Obesity is on the rise in Africa. Here’s what UNICEF is doing about it

Obesity is climbing at an alarming rate globally, fueled by the relentless spread of ultraprocessed foods. The statistics are staggering: The number of adults who are Class II has skyrocketed by nearly 150% in just two decades, from 157 million in 2010 to 385 million projected by 2030. And in Africa, the growth rate is even steeper: The number of obese adults is expected to surge over 200%, from 11.8 million to 37.2 million in 2030, according to the World Obesity Federation. This growing health crisis is linked to the rise of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke, which cause 1.6 million premature deaths annually — more than road traffic accidents, according to the federation. But obesity is just one part of the challenge. Many low- and middle-income countries in Africa are experiencing the “double burden” of malnutrition, where undernutrition and overweight coexist within the same populations, households, or even individuals. This means that while some children suffer from stunting or wasting due to insufficient nutrients, others are consuming too many unhealthy, ultraprocessed foods, leading to obesity and diet-related diseases. "The number of those who are overweight or obese is actually higher than those who are underweight in many cases," said Agnes Erzse, a nutrition specialist at UNICEF’s East and Southern Africa Regional Office. Today is World Obesity Day, a reminder of the growing global health crisis fueled by rising obesity rates. The World Obesity Federation released its World Obesity Atlas 2025, highlighting that the world remains off track to meet global targets for reducing noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs. The report underscores that tackling obesity is a key opportunity to curb the broader impact of NCDs like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Experts point to proven solutions — taxes on sugary drinks, limits on junk food advertisements to children, and subsidies for healthier options — but implementation remains uneven. The report calls on governments to adopt a whole-of-society approach, combining food labeling and taxation, urban planning for active lifestyles, efforts to combat obesity stigma, and improved access to obesity health care. But putting these policies in place isn’t easy: Food industry lobbying often slows or weakens efforts to regulate unhealthy products. Still, organizations such as UNICEF are working with governments to develop and implement these measures, while also encouraging regional cooperation. The power of ultraprocessed foods A key driver of the obesity epidemic is the rise of ultraprocessed foods — industrially manufactured products loaded with unhealthy fats, sugar, and salt. They may be tasty, but they’re low in nutrients. And their share in African diets is increasing rapidly. In South Africa, these foods make up a staggering 40% of the daily energy intake among 18-29-year-olds and 22% of intake among 40-50-year-olds, according to a study in the Public Health Nutrition journal. These products are marketed aggressively in the region. In Kenya, for example, ultraprocessed foods were by far the most advertised foods on the market, accounting for 60% of ads, according to a study conducted in 2021 and published in the same journal. And that dominance isn’t just about clever marketing — it’s by design. A handful of powerful manufacturers control the vast majority of ultraprocessed foods on the market, shaping not only what people eat but also the policies that regulate these products. In fact, the top 10 manufacturers control 80% of store-bought ultraprocessed food and drinks, and these companies exert influence on policies both directly and indirectly through industry groups, UNICEF said in a report. These products are designed to be hyperpalatable, addictive, and cheap. They are aggressively marketed, particularly to children and adolescents, shaping their taste preferences from an early age. "Governments we work with consistently point to industry interference as a major barrier," Erzse said, citing a UNICEF survey in which over 70% of policymakers reported that food and beverage companies actively delay or weaken public health regulations. "They use various tactics — they delay and deter, they pressure governments to postpone decision-making, and they distort the narrative, reframing obesity as an issue of individual responsibility rather than a systemic problem.” Pushing back through policy and advocacy Despite these challenges, some governments and organizations are fighting back. UNICEF is working to strengthen regulations that could help turn the tide against obesity. "We advocate for policies that restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to children, introduce front-of-pack nutrition labeling, and impose health-related fiscal policies like taxes on unhealthy foods and subsidies for healthy products," Erzse explained. These strategies have proven effective in parts of Latin America. In 2016, Chile implemented mandatory warning labels on foods high in sugar, sodium, saturated fats, or calories, leading to a significant decrease in sugary drink purchases and prompting food companies to reformulate products to avoid these warnings.​ Policy progress has so far been somewhat slow so far on the African continent. South Africa’s draft regulation R3337, which would impose stricter food labeling and marketing rules, has faced delays in passing but is still under review by the health department. In South Africa, UNICEF is working with youth advocates through the Fix My Food initiative, providing workshops, mentoring, and coaching to help them build advocacy skills and push for change in their food systems. This advocacy includes asking the government to ensure improved access to better nutrition and encouraging it to pass R3337 into law. Young people play a crucial role in this effort, especially given the powerful influence of schools in shaping lifelong eating habits. Ensuring that students have access to healthier food options is a major focus of UNICEF’s work. In Zimbabwe, for example, UNICEF and the World Food Programme have supported the government in developing school nutrition guidelines — now rolling out in 18 of 63 districts — that discourage the sale of ultraprocessed foods near schools, Erzse said. In Eswatini and Botswana, UNICEF and the World Heath Organization have created national road maps to combat obesity and will support their implementation this year, she added. Given South Africa's role as a regional hub for producing ultraprocessed foods — supplying countries like Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Comoros, and Eswatini — coordinated regional strategies are essential. Recognizing this, Erzse said, UNICEF has partnered with the Southern African Development Community to develop the first-ever regional obesity prevention strategy. "It's the first of its kind in the regional economic committees," said Erzse. "There hasn't been any other regional obesity strategy and implementation plan developed before. So we're hoping that it will accelerate the policy formulation, implementation, and enforcement to prevent overweight and obesity in a coherent way in the region.” Strong regulations in South Africa are crucial, she said. Without them, neighboring countries that rely on its packaged food supply may struggle to regulate their own food environments effectively.​ But just adopting policies isn’t enough. “It is important to note that the existence of guidelines or standards is not the same as implementation. Political, technical, and resource challenges may hinder governments’ capacity to implement recommended actions,“ the World Obesity Federation said in a report published Tuesday. “This highlights the important role of civil society in all countries to demand accountability.”