A major new study reveals that increased education and economic success in Africa may be unintentionally causing an unforeseen health problem: obesity, particularly among women. 

According to the study, which was published in the open-access journal BMJ Global Health, women in Africa are about five times more likely to be obese than males, and those with higher education are at a significantly higher risk than those with lower levels of education. According to researchers, the trend indicates a wider "education paradox" in which advancement is transforming bodies and attitudes. 

The study looked at body weight trends in the Africa region of the World Health Organisation between 2003 and 2022. The researchers evaluated data from 54 nationally and regionally representative surveys spanning 36 countries, which covered almost three-quarters of the region's population and nearly 199,000 persons aged 18 to 69. 

They discovered that obesity now affects approximately 9% of individuals, with slightly under 18% being overweight. At the same time, more than 11% of the population still suffers from undernutrition. This demonstrates what specialists refer to as a "dual burden of malnutrition" in which underweight and obesity coexist. 

Women and highly educated individuals ranked as the most vulnerable demographics. Obesity prevalence in women was nearly 13.5 percent, compared to slightly more than 4.5 percent in men. Adults with university degrees were nearly four times more likely to be obese than those with lower education levels. 

After controlling for age, food, and physical activity, the risks of obesity were about five times greater in women than in men and significantly higher among those with tertiary education. 

To put it simply, schooling frequently leads to office employment that requires extended periods of sitting. It also increases income, making fast meals, fizzy drinks, and packaged snacks more inexpensive and socially acceptable. These once-rare foods are now routinely available in booming cities. 

In many African and South Asian cultures, a larger female body is still considered a symbol of health, success, and prosperity. At the same time, women may have less safe or socially acceptable options for regular exercise, such as jogging or visiting a gym. These elements work together to enhance risk without providing visible warning signs. 

Body weight was calculated using the body mass index (BMI), which is a basic weight-to-height ratio. A BMI of less than 18.5 suggests underweight, 25 to 29.9 indicates overweight, and 30 or higher denotes obesity. The questionnaires also included physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption. 

Overweight and obesity rates have more than doubled globally over the last 40 years. In 2022, 2.5 billion adults were overweight, while 890 million were obese. While rates appear to be stabilising in affluent countries, they are rising faster in low- and middle-income countries, which now account for almost two-thirds of the obesity population. 

Africa faces unique hazards due to poor healthcare systems, growing urbanisation, and inadequate public health initiatives. 

"Taken together, these findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions that consider the unique socio-cultural and economic contexts affecting women in the WHO African region," according to the study participants. 

They further explain: "The results raise the point that education and awareness campaigns should not solely target individuals with lower education levels, as those with higher education may also require information and support." 

Although the study did not include South Africa and did not go into cultural norms or income in depth, the authors conclude that the results "support the urgent need to intensify preventive health policies and programs in the WHO-African region."