Efforts to Address the Burden of Overweight and Obesity Among Children and Adolescents in Tanzania: Stakeholders' Perspectives on the Available Policies and Strategies

Abstract

Introduction: Malnutrition affects all ages and accounts for 36% of the global disease burden. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed a plan to help governments address malnutrition through better policies and service delivery. In Tanzania, nearly 500,000 children are overweight or obese, especially among urban adolescent girls. However, the effectiveness of current policies on this issue is unclear. This study aims to explore stakeholders' perspectives on policies addressing childhood obesity and identify priorities for national action.

 Methods: This cross-sectional exploratory qualitative study was conducted in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam regions. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select Key Informants. A total of 22 respondents were selected for interviews from within and outside the government sectors. Respondents were selected from among national government officials, representatives of United Nations agencies, academicians from institutions of higher learning, members of civil society organisations, professional associations, and personnel from mass media. A landscape analysis and thematic analysis were employed to analyse the collected data.

Results: The study highlights significant gaps in policies, legislation, and strategies addressing overweight and obesity among children and adolescents. Existing policies are outdated and focus more on being underweight than on being overweight, despite the latter being a major contributor to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Findings revealed a lack of accessible data, particularly for demographics beyond children and reproductive-age women, and a low level of awareness about the health effects of overweight and obesity. Key challenges included insufficient data systems and the prevalence of unhealthy diets.

Conclusion: The study calls for improved knowledge through interventions targeting all sectors and decision-making levels. It suggests incorporating overweight and obesity control into school curriculums, updating policies to include nutrition labelling, and regulating unhealthy food marketing to children. Creating an enabling environment for healthy food choices and physical activity is also essential. A multi-sectoral approach involving stakeholders is crucial for addressing these issues effectively.