A recent study reveals that the proportion of young people (aged 5-24) living with obesity more than tripled from 2% in 1990 to over 6% by 2021, reported Spotlight (20 May 2025).
In SA 16% of children aged 6-18 are classified as “severely overweight” and nearly 30% of adults are living with obesity, almost double the global average.
A recent Lancet Commission, developed by 58 experts from diverse medical specialities, healthcare systems worldwide, suggests that obesity should not merely be considered a risk factor for other diseases (like type 2 diabetes) but a disease in itself, warranting immediate treatment.