Childhood obesity on the rise in Kenya: Experts warn of lifestyle, diet and cultural triggers
According to Dr Micah Kibera, a Nairobi-based clinical nutritionist, one of the most overlooked causes is the steady decline of physical activity in children’s daily routines.
Childhood obesity has shifted from a distant worry to an urgent crisis now evident in classrooms and clinics. More school-aged children than ever are struggling with weight-related health challenges, a trend that shows no signs of slowing.
Changing lifestyles, aggressive marketing of junk food, increased screen time, and school policies have all contributed to creating an environment where staying healthy is more challenging.
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According to Dr Micah Kibera, a Nairobi-based clinical nutritionist, one of the most overlooked causes is the steady decline of physical activity in children’s daily routines.
"We're raising a generation indoors," he says. "Many schools no longer have designated play areas, and even at home, outdoor play is either unsafe or unavailable. As screens take over, running, jumping, and playing have become rare."
Kibera emphasises that exercise is just as vital as proper nutrition in protecting children from obesity and related health issues. He urges parents and schools to create deliberate opportunities for active play. "Children should be outdoors—not glued to screens—and parents must model active lifestyles too."
Diet remains another key concern. Kibera explains that child malnutrition takes two forms: undernutrition and overnutrition. Both, he warns, can be harmful.
"When a child's height is normal for their age, but their weight mirrors that of an adult, that should raise an alarm," he says. "Over-nourished children often become over-nourished adults, which increases their risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension."
Cases of type 2 diabetes are already emerging among Kenyan adolescents—a condition once rare in young people.
"It's only a matter of time before we see it in even younger age groups, which is deeply concerning," Kibera adds.
Professional advice
He also encourages parents to accept professional advice.
"Sometimes, when we raise concerns about a child's weight, parents take it personally. But we're not judging—our goal is to help your child live a healthy life."
Childhood obesity, he warns, comes with far-reaching effects beyond weight gain: joint pain, sleep apnea, fatigue, poor muscle recovery, and emotional instability. "Many of these children feel constantly hungry or moody, which can affect their confidence and performance in school," he says.
Parental influence, Kibera believes, is central to shaping healthy habits.
"If every time you take your children out you buy them chips and fried chicken, that's what they'll learn to love," he says. "But if you build a habit of offering fruits, healthy meals, and wholesome snacks, they will grow to prefer and enjoy those instead."
A study in Nairobi and Thika titled "Association Between Primary School Children's Unhealthful Behaviours and Overweight/Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Urban Kenya" found that children who ate fruit less than twice a day were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese.
Processed meats
Eating red or processed meats more than three times a week, as well as frequent consumption of fried snacks, sugary drinks, cakes, and crisps, also raises obesity risks. Children who ate while watching TV were particularly vulnerable.
The findings underscore the strong link between poor diets and childhood obesity. High-calorie but nutrient-poor foods like chips, sweets, and red meat fuel weight gain, especially when coupled with low physical activity. Distracted eating further encourages overeating.
Urban lifestyles compound the problem. Research, including the ISCOLE–Kenya project, shows that only 12.6 per cent of Kenyan children achieve the recommended 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous activity. Many spend long hours on screens, lack safe play spaces, and attend schools with limited physical education. In cities, fast food outlets and junk food advertising are everywhere, while safe outdoor spaces are scarce. Parents working long hours may also rely on processed meals.
Schools play a role, too. Many sell junk food in tuck shops or nearby kiosks, and recess or physical education may be cut short by infrastructure or scheduling gaps. Lunchboxes often contain processed snacks instead of fresh produce.
Cultural practices
Cultural beliefs and parental practices also matter. In some communities, bigger children are seen as healthier, encouraging overfeeding. Food is sometimes used as a reward, or children are pressured to finish large portions. Caregiver nutrition education is often lacking.
Aggressive marketing adds another layer. Children are constantly exposed to adverts for sugary cereals, drinks, and snacks, shaping their preferences and fuelling demand for unhealthy foods.
Globally, obesity has overtaken underweight as the most common form of malnutrition, now affecting 1 in 10—or 188 million—school-aged children and adolescents. In Kenya, the challenge is threefold: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising rates of overweight and obesity.
The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey shows that 3 per cent of children under five are overweight, with rates as high as 6 per cent in counties like Nyeri, Nyamira, Kisii, and Nairobi.
Among adolescents aged 15–19, 13 per cent of girls are overweight or obese compared to 2 per cent of boys. The World Obesity Atlas 2022 projects that by 2030, over one million Kenyan children aged 5–19 will be living with obesity.
Shaheen Nilofer, UNICEF Kenya Country Representative, calls for a coordinated national response. "The growing burden of overweight and obesity is driven by a shift toward energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and aggressive marketing of unhealthy products. Many young children, regardless of location, struggle to access nutritious, balanced diets," she said.
Community-level nutrition awareness
UNICEF Kenya is working to push for policies that regulate children’s food environments, make healthy foods affordable and accessible, and promote community-level nutrition awareness.
"For example, in a global poll of 64,000 young people aged 13–24 from over 170 countries conducted through UNICEF's U-Report platform last year, 75 per cent recalled seeing advertisements for sugary drinks, snacks, or fast foods in the previous week, and 60 per cent said these ads increased their desire to consume these foods. Even in conflict-affected countries, 68 per cent reported exposure to such advertisements."
Without urgent interventions, experts warn, childhood obesity will lead to serious long-term health and economic impacts.
Globally, obesity-related healthcare costs are projected to surpass US$4 trillion annually by 2035. In Peru, for example, such costs could exceed US$210 billion.
Still, some countries offer hope. Mexico, where sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods make up 40 per cent of children’s daily calories, has introduced strict policies to curb the crisis—showing that coordinated government action can turn the tide.
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