As part of key strategies to curb the rising burden of obesity in the country, health experts have called on the Federal Government to integrate obesity prevention services into Primary Healthcare Centres nationwide.
They noted that PHCs remain the first point of contact for many Nigerians and provide a strategic platform for early screening, nutrition counselling, and lifestyle education needed to prevent obesity and related non-communicable diseases.
According to them, focusing solely on treatment without preventive interventions at the grassroots level continues to fuel rising cases of hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases linked to obesity.
In its report, the World Health Organisation says one in eight people in the world is living with obesity, with about 2.5 billion adults (18 years and older) being overweight.
The global health body added that 890 million out of these overweight adults were living with obesity, with 43 per cent of adults aged 18 years and above being overweight, while 16 per cent were living with obesity.
The WHO data also revealed that 37 million children under the age of 5 were overweight in 2022, while over 390 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 years were overweight, including 160 million who were living with obesity.
Speaking exclusively to PUNCH Healthwise ahead of World Obesity Day 2026, commemorated globally on March 4th, a Deputy Director, Nursing Services, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Oluwayomi Ale, urged policymakers to incorporate routine weight monitoring, dietary guidance, and physical activity promotion into PHCs’ services.
“Early prevention through community-based care is essential to reversing Nigeria’s obesity trend and improving long-term health outcomes.
“Integrating obesity prevention into primary healthcare services by training healthcare workers in PHCs on nutrition counseling and lifestyle management will help to curb the menace,” she said.
Furthermore, she stated that the fight against obesity requires coordinated action at the individual, family, community, and government levels.
According to her, tackling obesity early is critical to reducing the long-term healthcare and economic burden associated with non-communicable diseases.
Ale said that unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and poor health awareness are driving an increase in weight-related illnesses across Nigeria.
She noted that with sustained awareness and coordinated action, Nigeria can curb the rising trend of obesity and reduce its burden on public health....
