Now obesity catches up with Africa

Obesity is rarely off the public agenda these days, which is not surprising when experts report that one-third of the world’s adults are overweight. FILE PHOTO |

What you need to know:

  • Crisis: Sugary and fatty fast foods allied to lack of exercise are turning many Africans into waddling fatties.
  • In South Africa, nearly two-thirds of the population are overweight, including one in four girls and one in five boys.

Seeking relief from the remorseless politics of Scottish (non)-independence, violence in Syria and Iraq, and the high drama of professional football (where a Kenyan, Victor Wanyama, has scored for the first time in Premiership history), I turned to "You’ve Been Framed".

This is a television programme of comic mishaps, antics by animals and cute behaviour by children, filmed by the public usually on their mobile phones.

Among the clips was one of a paddling pool with a very fat gentleman and a small boy, both in swimming trunks. Enquired the little one innocently: “Why do you have a baby in your tummy?”

The fat man laughed, but in an embarrassed sort of way.

Obesity is rarely off the public agenda these days, which is not surprising when experts report that one-third of the world’s adults are overweight.

In the rich West, of course and probably some developing nations, but surely not in Africa, where malnutrition kills 35-40 per cent of children? Yes, in Africa, too!

At certain levels of society, sugary and fatty fast foods allied to lack of exercise are turning many Africans into waddling fatties.

Obese people in developing countries rose from 250 million to one billion in 30 years.

In South Africa, nearly two-thirds of the population are overweight, including one in four girls and one in five boys.

Octavia Mphumbude, 25, a single mother, in a Cape Town gym trying to lose weight, told the London Observer, “I won’t lie, I like junk food a lot. When I am hungry, I crave fast food, it is hard to resist.”

WILLPOWER

Resistance may be the key. More than 40 years ago, researchers submitted hundreds of four-year-olds to an ingenious test of willpower.

In front of each kid they placed a piece of marshmallow, a spongy, sugary candy, and said they could either eat their treat now or if they waited for 15 minutes, they could have two.

Some kids failed to resist temptation for even a minute. Others struggled longer but gave in.

The successful participants distracted themselves by turning around, covering their eyes, kicking the desk or picking their noses.

Having rejected instant gratification, they received an extra marshmallow.

Follow-up studies with a sub-group of participants, now in their 40s found that those who waited out the 15 minutes had fewer problems with behaviour, drug addiction or obesity as they grew up, scored higher in tests and enjoyed more stable lives and careers.

Willpower is important but lifestyle, too. Fiona Sefara, recalled: “We had nothing as children so we would take a tennis ball outside and play for hours until it was dark. Now the kids have computers and laptops and games on screen and they don’t walk like we did, they are driven everywhere.”

Attempting to grapple with the global crisis, Denmark has restricted trans-fatty acids, Mexico imposed taxes on fizzy drinks and Japan fines firms, which employ overweight workers.

Yet no nation has managed significantly to reduce its obesity level in recent times.

***

So Scotland said No to independence, 55 to 44 per cent. Now begins an extended period of debate over the form of a new constitutional arrangement which may mean that only English MPs will vote on issues which affect England.

The margin of victory was substantial and in retrospect predictable. But it did not seem so in the panicky last few weeks and to place a large bet on No, took some courage.

One man had no doubts.

He bet £900,000 (Sh130 million) on a negative vote, though the odds were not great. The best he got was 1-4, so that for every £4 (Sh581) he bet, he would get £5 (Sh726) back for a win. Thus for his £900,000, he received a cheque for £1,093,333 (Sh158 million), the profit being just under £200,000 (Sh29 million).

The man, who is anonymous, said: “Losing the money would have seriously hurt. I wouldn’t have lost my house, but my wife would have had something to say about it.”

***

How to get a pay rise: The young man walked into his boss’s office.

“Sir,” he said, “I’ll get straight to the point. I enjoy working here and I have done a good job. But a number of companies are after me and I think I deserve a salary increase.”

After some haggling, the boss agreed an increase of 10 per cent. As the worker headed for the door, the boss asked, “Which companies are after you?”

Said the young man, “The gas company, the electricity company, the phone company, the hire purchase company…”

***

How to get something done: 1. Do it yourself. 2. Hire somebody to do it. 3. Order your children not to do it.

How to chop vegetables without cutting your fingers? Get someone else to hold the vegetables.