As part of key strategies to curb the growing burden of obesity in the country, health experts have called on the federal government to integrate obesity prevention services into primary health care centers across the country.
He noted that PHCs remain the first point of contact for many Nigerians and provide a strategic platform for early screening, nutrition counseling and lifestyle education needed to prevent obesity and related non-communicable diseases.
According to him, focussing only on treatment without preventive intervention at the grassroots level is leading to rising cases of hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases associated with obesity.
In its report, the World Health Organization says that one in eight people in the world is living with obesity, with approximately 2.5 billion adults (18 years and older) being overweight.
The global health body said that of these overweight adults, 890 million were living with obesity, with 43 percent of adults aged 18 and older being overweight, while 16 percent were living with obesity.
WHO data also showed that 37 million children under the age of 5 were overweight in 2022, while more than 390 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 years were overweight, including 160 million who were living with obesity.
speaking specifically to punch according to health Ahead of the World Obesity Day 2026 to be observed globally on March 4, the Deputy Director, Nursing Services, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Oluwayomi Ale, urged policy makers to include regular weight monitoring, dietary guidance and physical activity promotion in the services of PHCs.
“Early prevention through community-based care is essential to reverse the obesity trend in Nigeria and improve long-term health outcomes.
“Integrating obesity prevention into primary health services by training health workers in PHCs on nutrition counseling and lifestyle management will help curb this menace,” he said.
Furthermore, he said the fight against obesity requires coordinated action at the individual, family, community and government levels.
According to him, it is important to tackle obesity early to reduce the long-term health care and economic burden associated with non-communicable diseases.
Ale said unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles and poor health awareness are leading to an increase in weight-related diseases across Nigeria.
He said that with sustained awareness and coordinated action, Nigeria can curb the rising trend of obesity and reduce its burden on public health and national productivity.
“Obesity is a silent but deadly threat that threatens public health, economic stability and overall well-being. It can be prevented, but only through sustained awareness, behavior change and strong policy interventions.
“Tackling obesity requires collective responsibility, personal discipline, family support, community awareness and government action.
“By prioritizing healthy living and preventive health care, society can stem the rising wave of obesity and secure a healthy future for future generations,” he said.
He lamented that obesity, once considered a problem of rich countries, has now become a burden in many low-income countries, including Nigeria.
“Obesity has become one of the most pressing public health challenges of the 21st century. Once considered a problem for high-income countries, it is now a global epidemic affecting both developed and developing countries.”
“In Nigeria and many other African countries, obesity is increasing along with persistent undernutrition, creating a double burden of malnutrition,” he said.
The deputy director of nursing warned that the effects of obesity go beyond physical appearance.
“Obesity is not just about physical appearance; it is a complex medical condition that increases the risk of many non-communicable diseases and reduces quality of life. Its increasing prevalence poses a serious threat to individuals, families, health care systems, and national productivity,” Alley said.
He said, “Obesity places a huge burden on health care systems due to the increased costs of treating chronic diseases. It also reduces productivity through absenteeism, disability and premature death. At the national level, it affects economic growth and workforce efficiency.”
On steps to be taken, Alley urged individuals to lead a healthy life, regular exercise, regular health checkups and adopt public health policies that directly address this threat.
Others include making physical education mandatory in primary and secondary schools, regulating the sale of sugary drinks and unhealthy snacks on school premises, including nutrition and lifestyle education in the curriculum and introducing workplace wellness programmes, he said.
In addition, Alley advocated for a nationwide campaign on the risks of obesity and the benefits of healthy living, implementing taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages, and correcting misconceptions linking obesity to wealth or well-being.
On his part, Dr. Oluseyi Aderinwale, a public health researcher and medical expert, expressed concern about the rising menace of obesity in Nigeria.
Aderinwale called for increased investment in the training of health workers.
“Medical personnel need advanced skills in using data to provide nutritional counseling and track patient outcomes. Bridging this knowledge gap is essential to change the situation,” he said.
He urged African health ministries and providers to take a multi-sectoral approach to tackling the issue.
“We need policies that promote physical activity, control the marketing of unhealthy foods, ensure exercise facilities in urban and rural areas, and support access to nutritious diets for low- and middle-income people,” he said.
