Although obesity is a global epidemic that affects every socio-economic
class, little is available in the literature on the status of the
syndrome in Africa. This literature review was therefore written in
order to highlight the causes, effects and potential mitigation
measures of the syndrome with particular interest on the status of the
condition in Africa. Obesity results from an incorrect energy balance
leading to an increased store of energy, mainly as fat. The major
factors that contribute to obesity include over-nutrition, physical
inactivity, change of dietary habits, modernization, consumption of
high fat, high carbohydrate foods, urbanization and in a minority of
patients a physical condition or metabolic disturbance. Body mass index
(BMI) is currently being used by competent authorities as an index of
obesity. BMI differentiates classes of obesity, with class I, II and
III being identified with BMI of ≥30 but <35, ≥35 but
<40, and ≥40, respectively. A BMI of 18.5-25 is regarded as
normal. However, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate obesity due
to excess fat deposition and that due to muscle atrophy. Also, current
procedures for estimating body fat percentage are not as accurate as
they should and often give different results. Despite women tending to
be more obese than men, they are less prone to hypertension, heart
disease and type 2 diabetes than men before they reach menopause due to
their fat deposition being predominantly sub-cutaneous rather than
abdominal. In 2010, the WHO estimated that about 1.4 billion adults
were overweight and obese, but 300-400 million were obese. The defining
metabolic changes in obesity are decreased glucose tolerance, decreased
sensitivity to insulin, hyperinsulinemia and reduced life expectancy.
Obesity can be treated by restricting food intake and engaging in
regular physical exercises. Other measures include the use of anorectic
drugs and various forms of jejunoileostomy. Obesity is a controllable
behavioural disorder, with regular exercise and sensible eating being
the best ways to regulate body fat percentage and maintain a healthy
body weight. As it is difficult to treat obesity, efforts should be
directed towards prevention in order to keep it in check