The Prevalence of Obesity in South Africa
The current study found that the majority of adult South Africans are overweight or obese, and that the prevalence of overweight and obesity is highest among Black Africans. The major contributors to energy intake were carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Carbohydrates contributed 50% of total energy intake, while fat and protein contributed 33% and 15% of total energy intake, respectively.
The mean daily intake of alcohol was significantly higher among Whites than among other groups. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of calcium, iron, vitamin D, or folate intake.
The prevalence of overweight was 37.4% and the prevalence of obesity was 32.3%. The prevalence of central obesity was significantly higher among Black Africans than among other groups.
These findings highlight the need for interventions to promote healthy eating behaviours and to reduce sedentary behaviours among all adults, but especially among Black