The Ministry of Health has raised alarm over Kenya’s rising obesity rates, revealing that nearly half of women aged 20 to 49 are either overweight or obese – a trend linked to unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles.

Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni described the situation as worrying, warning that it is reducing women’s productivity and economic contribution. “About 45 per cent of women aged 20 to 49 are overweight or obese,” she said during a sensitisation programme on TV.

To tackle the problem, Muthoni said the government has introduced the Kenya Nutrient Profile Model, a tool that classifies and regulates foods based on their nutritional value.

The model is part of the attributes of a broader plan to help curb non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including obesity, that cause 39 per cent of deaths in Kenya.

Muthoni also reported a decline in exclusive breastfeeding among mothers with children under six months old. The proportion declined from 61 to 60 per cent, while bottle-feeding rose sharply from 22 to 34 per cent. She cautioned that such a trend would undermine the healthful growth and development of children.

Dispelling common myths, Muthoni called on women, especially young mothers, to embrace breastfeeding, assuring that it will not cause premature aging. She also suggested that the high rate of teen pregnancies is still a serious education and health problem.