A report released by the Ministry of Health at the second National Food Fortification Summit 2021 revealed that Kirinyaga women are leading in obesity at 50% followed by their counterparts in Nyeri, Murang’a and Kiambu counties respectively.
Speaking during the event, MOH Director of Nutrition and Dietetics Veronica Kirogo noted that eating behaviour contributed to the weight-gain of women in those regions.
“Women in these regions prefer a mixture of rice and potatoes as food. That is not a balanced diet. In fact, what this kind of meal does is to add more weight to their bodies because the food contains a lot of calories,” Kirogo said.
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The nutrition and dietetics expert also warned of the weight gain trend terming it a major health risk. She explained that health hazards associated with obesity include heart attack, kidney and cancer-related diseases.
According to MOH, micronutrient deficiencies remain a public health concern, especially for Kenyan women and children.
While at it, CAS Rashid Aman took the opportunity to explain that malnutrition is also one of the leading causes of infant diseases in the country.
