Newswise — Philadelphia, May 9, 2023 – The surge in obesity in LMIC is predominantly attributed to a shift in lifestyle from traditional diets to unhealthy Western dietary habits, which follows economic progress. In Nairobi, Kenya, this investigation, released by Elsevier in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, obtained information on dietary and physical activity practices from households residing in two communities with varying socioeconomic backgrounds. The analysis established that the consumption of unhealthy foods by Kenyan preadolescents is connected to rising affluence.
Noora Kanerva, PhD, from the Department of Food and Nutrition at the University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, states that the dietary patterns of Kenyan individuals are shifting from traditional staple foods to refined grains, especially in urban areas. "Evidence of a lifestyle shift is also apparent in physical activity, as rural children were observed to be more active and participated significantly less in playing screen games," she adds as the lead author.
The comprehensive research conducted in this study utilized questionnaires to collect sociodemographic information from 149 households, which included inquiries regarding education levels, living conditions, and asset ownership within the household. The preadolescents' height and weight were also recorded, and a seven-day food frequency questionnaire was administered to obtain details about their diet. This questionnaire consisted of culturally-specific foods, as well as locally available packaged foods such as noodles, pizza, and pancakes. Additionally, study participants wore accelerometers to measure their level of physical activity.
The study identified three distinct dietary patterns: snacks, fast food, and meat; dairy and plant protein; and vegetables and refined grains. The consumption of food that is commonly regarded as unhealthy, such as snacks and fast food, was more frequent among preadolescents from wealthier families. The most significant disparity was observed for sodas and juices (both sweetened and unsweetened), which were consumed eight times more often by preadolescents in the highest wealth index compared to those in the lowest. There was no significant correlation between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and any of the dietary patterns.
Dr. Kanerva explains, "Our observations suggest that preadolescents residing in the urban areas of Nairobi, Kenya - which has been upgraded to an LMIC less than a decade ago - do not exhibit dietary patterns that are similar to those of high-income countries, where preadolescents from less affluent families typically have unhealthier diets than those from wealthier families. Since LMIC are still in the early stages of their lifestyle transition, the spread of obesity to epidemic levels may be avoided if the right measures are identified and implemented soon."
The researchers recommend that interventions promoting healthy lifestyles should be implemented with the help of peer counselors and Community Health Volunteers (CHV) who are lay health educators. In Kenya, CHVs are an integral part of the community and provide culturally relevant social support, making them an effective resource for promoting healthy lifestyles. They are members of community health units and make weekly home visits to households within designated geographical areas. Furthermore, the extensive coverage of mobile phone networks in Kenya makes Mobile Health interventions a feasible approach, as they are currently being used for family planning and infectious disease management.
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