By Chapala Chikoyi
The Heart and Stroke Foundation (ZAHEFSO)
has called for urgent and collective action to address the growing obesity
crisis in the country.
ZAHEFSO Chairperson Sida Lweendo said
through a statement delivered during the Commemoration of World Obesity Day
that this year’s theme, Zambia “8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity,” serves as
a powerful reminder that the condition affects people everywhere and that every
individual matters in this fight.
Mr. Lweendo highlighted alarming
projections indicating that by 2035, nearly four billion people—half of the
global population—may be living with an overweight condition or obesity.
He noted that obesity is a major
contributor to non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and
certain cancers, and that the rise of childhood obesity, particularly in low-
and middle-income countries like Zambia, underscores widening health
inequalities.
He emphasized that obesity is not merely a
matter of personal choice or appearance but a complex chronic condition
influenced by genetic, hormonal, behavioral, and environmental factors.
Mr. Lweendo stressed that tackling it requires a
multi-sectoral approach involving the government, healthcare providers,
schools, workplaces, and civil society.
Mr. Lweendo made the remarks through a speech delivered on his behalf by Zambia Heart and Stroke Foundation Youth Advocate Nzali Chitindi
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