In commemoration of World Obesity Day (WOD), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has renewed its call for comprehensive healthy food policies aimed at strengthening local diets and tackling Nigeria’s growing obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) crisis.
The civil society organization (CSO) issued a statement on Tuesday, March 4, highlighting alarming global obesity data, which it says reinforces the urgent need to discourage excessive consumption of sugary drinks, one of the key risk factors for obesity.
Among the critical measures, CAPPA is advocating for is a substantial increase in the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax from its current N10 per litre to N130 per litre, or at least 20% of the product’s retail price.
The organization argued that this tax hike would not only curb consumption but also generate much-needed revenue to support the healthcare sector in addressing obesity-related health conditions.
WOD is an annual event that promotes practical solutions for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight while addressing the broader systemic factors contributing to the global obesity crisis.
This year’s WOD theme, “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives,” underscores the need for systemic changes to address obesity and related chronic diseases.
CAPPA aligns with this theme, emphasizing that key systems, such as food production and marketing, healthcare services, government regulations, media influence, and workplace environments, play a direct or indirect role in the rising obesity epidemic.
“These systems are directly or indirectly linked to the increasing rates of obesity,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director.
The urgency for action is further reinforced by troubling global and local obesity forecasts.
According to the World Obesity Federation (WOF), by 2035, approximately 1.9 billion people, or 1 in 4 individuals, will be living with obesity, costing the global economy an estimated $4.32 trillion.
Even more alarming, childhood obesity is projected to increase by 100% between 2020 and 2035.
“Ten years after the international health community designated March 4 as World Obesity Day, it is disheartening to see a condition once associated with wealthier nations steadily creeping into low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria,” Oluwafemi remarked.
Citing data from the National Library of Medicine, he revealed that as of 2020, over 21 million Nigerians aged 15 and above were overweight, while 12 million were classified as obese.
This represents an age-adjusted prevalence of approximately 20% for overweight individuals and 12% for obesity.
CAPPA also raised concerns over multinational food corporations flooding Nigerian markets with unhealthy, ultra-processed food products.
The organization warned that these corporations deliberately target children and young people, shaping their dietary habits in a way that undermines traditional, nutritious diets.
“These junk foods are fueling the obesity crisis, leading to significant productivity losses due to hospitalizations and chronic disabilities among NCD victims,” Oluwafemi stated.
Referencing data from the World Health Organization (WHO), he noted that obese children are at higher risk of developing serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, sleep disorders, and liver disease.
“Childhood obesity also increases the risk of obesity, non-communicable diseases, premature death, and disability in adulthood,” he added.
Given the severity of the crisis, CAPPA reiterated its demand for increased taxation on sugary drinks as a critical pro-health intervention.
The organization urged the government to raise the SSB tax to N130 per litre and ensure that proceeds from the levy are directed toward strengthening healthcare services.
“Taking action on obesity is a crucial step in reducing the burden of other chronic non-communicable diseases,” Oluwafemi concluded.
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