Obesity leading cause of high blood pressure, diabetes Ministry of Health

Obesity leading cause of high blood pressure, diabetes  Ministry of Health

Rising cases of obesity among women has been identified as the main cause of high blood pressure and diabetes in the country according to the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry has noted that the number of obese women in the country is on the rise compared to that of minors, a trend that is worrying.

This emerged during a two-day workshop on nutrition held at Simba Lodge Naivasha sponsored by the European Union (EU) and attended by stakeholders from various parts of the country.

Addressing the press during the workshop, the Head of the Nutrition and Dietetics unit in the Ministry of Health Gladys Mugambi termed the trend as worrying.

Ms Mugambi said that there was need for an increase in advocacy and budget allocation towards nutrition to address the emerging cases of overweight, obese, stunting and wasting.

She noted that a mere 0.6 percent of budget allocated to the Ministry of Health went to nutrition adding that there was need to increase this.

Mugambi was, however, quick to note that obesity among minors was on the decline due to exclusive breast feeding but on the rise in adults due to poor eating habits.

The EU Head of Social and Environment Section Hjordis Ogendo said that the organization was keen to fund nutrition related projects in the country.

She said that between 2007 and 2016, EU had committed over Ksh 5 billion towards supporting nutrition and maternal health in the country.

“We have currently invested another 5.4m Euros to various nutrition projects in seven counties as we are committed to winning this battle,” she said.

 

Tags:

kenya ministry of health Diabetes obesity high blood pressure Obesity among women

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